TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Football Head Coach
Brent Brennan today announced seven staffing updates for the program heading into the 2026 season, including new hires and promotions.
Lyle Moevao has been promoted to Running Backs Coach,
Ronnie Palmer has been promoted to Defensive End/Edge Coach, and
Courtney Detlefsen has been promoted to Assistant Director of Football Operations. New hires include
Mike Williams as Assistant Coach – Wide Receivers,
Andrew Morgan as Coordinator of College Scouting,
Josh Patterson as Director of Scouting, and
Lauren Benjamin as Coordinator of Internal Operations.
Moevao, entering his third season with the program, takes over the running backs room after working with the group the entirety of the 2025 season. He assisted with the Wildcats quarterbacks in 2024 and joined the program from San Jose State alongside Coach Brennan. Coach Moevao has previously steered the running back group with Northern Colorado in 2020 and the AAF's San Antonio Commanders in 2019 — he began his coaching career working quality control with the running backs group at Oregon State in 2013. Under his guidance last season, the Arizona running backs combined for 1,750 yards and 15 touchdowns as the Wildcats tallied nine wins and earned a berth in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl.
Palmer, going into his second season back with his alma mater, will take on an expanded role assisting with the Wildcats defensive ends and edge players in 2026. The former Wildcat standout joined the program as an Assistant Coach - Defense and helped Arizona pick up the eighth nine-win season in program history in 2025. Palmer player for Arizona from 2005–08 as a four-year starter and picked up Freshman All-America recognition, among numerous other honors. Prior to joining the Wildcats he served multiple years as the Head Coach at Monterey Peninsula College and tallied four conference championships during his tenure.
Detlefsen, a University of Arizona and Eller College of Management graduate, enters her third season in a full-time role with the program. Her experience includes two seasons with Arizona Football as a football operations intern, one season with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a fan experience intern, and a stint as a 2024 NCAA Men's Final Four Ambassador at State Farm Stadium. Detlefsen earned the Arizona Excellence Scholarship, Dean's List with Distinction recognition, an Eller Scholar of the Year 2023 nomination, and a spot on the Eller Top-50 Collegiate Women of the Year list in 2023.
Williams joins the Wildcats after a two-year stint at Nebraska to assist with the program's wide receiver room. He brings with him multiple seasons of experience coaching wide receivers at Luther College (2021) and Nebraska (2023-25). Williams played wide receiver at East Mississippi Community College (2017) and Nebraska (2018-20) prior to beginning his coaching journey.
Morgan returns to Tucson following one season with Idaho, where he served as the Vandals Assistant Director of Football Recruiting. Morgan graduated from Arizona with a BA in Psychology and while enrolled spent two-plus years with Arizona Football in a Player Personnel Student Assistant role.
Patterson, an Oregon State graduate, comes to Arizona following five-plus years with the Beavers in various roles. He most recently as the Oregon State Director of Scouting - Defense where he led defensive scouts and evaluations for high school, junior college, and transfer portal student-athletes and oversaw defensive recruiting operations.
Benjamin, another University of Arizona and Eller College of Management graduate, returns to the Wildcats following a season with the San Francisco 49ers. She graduated from Arizona in May 2025 and while enrolled spent time with the football program as an equipment manager and recruiting operations intern.
