With the success Arizona has had this season it was inevitable that one or more of its assistants would garner interest for coaching openings across the country. That appears to be the case with running backs coach/assistant head coach Alonzo Carter, who is among the top candidates for the head coaching opening at Sacramento State.
Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports is reporting that Carter has been linked to the Sacramento State job along with former Stanford head coach Troy Taylor—who coached the Hornets
from 2019-22—and current Delaware State coach DeSean Jackson.
Carter, 57, has been with Arizona the past two seasons after coming over with Brent Brennan from San Jose State, where he was the RB coach from 2017-23. Prior to that he was head coach at Contra Costa College in the Bay Area from 2010-16 and also coached at the high school level in the area from 1999-2009.
Sacramento State, which plays in the Big Sky Conference but has been trying to move up from FCS to FBS, went 7-5 this season under first-year coach Brennan Marion, who left to be offensive coordinator at Colorado. The Hornets made the FCS playoffs four times from 2019-23, reaching the quarterfinals in 2022.
Arce, Viney candidates for Coach of the Year award
Defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, given to college football’s top assistant coach, but did not make the cut as one of the five finalists. Two of his position coaches, however, have a chance at their own national recognition.
Safeties coach Brett Arce and cornerbacks coach Chip Viney are finalists for Football Scoop’s Coach of the Year award for defensive backs. The other finalists are from Oregon, San Diego State, Southern Miss and Toledo.
Arce and Viney have overseen a secondary that has recorded 17 of Arizona’s 19 interceptions and helped the UA defense rank 4th nationally in pass defense (155.9 yards per game) and 1st in opponent passer rating (95.16). The last eight schools have failed to reach 200 passing yards, tied for the longest streak in FBS since 2004.
Locke to enter transfer portal
Braedyn Locke was added from the NCAA transfer portal last winter to provide insurance if quarterback Noah Fifita struggled or suffered an injury that caused him to miss time in 2025. Fortunately, neither happened as Fifita became Arizona’s first First Team all-conference quarterback since 1975.
Assuming Fifita is back next season, and with younger QBs Sawyer Anderson and incoming freshman Oscar Rios likely to compete for the backup job, Locke plans to re-enter the portal for his final year of eligibility.
Locke appeared in four games for the Wildcats, completing 5 of 15 passes for 33 yards with an interception. Prior to Arizona he spent time at Mississippi State and Wisconsin, making 12 starts with the Badgers.
He is the fourth UA player who is set to enter the portal when it officially opens on Jan. 2, joining tight end Keyan Burnett, offensive lineman Michael Wooten and defensive lineman Chancellor Owens.
