In his fifth season with Arizona, Tony Dews coaches the Wildcat receivers. He was named to Rich Rodriguez’s staff on Dec. 7, 2011.
In 2015, Cayleb Jones led a diverese receiving corps with 904 yards on 55 receptions, averaging 16.4 yards per catch. He along with Johnny Jackson, Nate Phillips, David Richards and Samajie Grant all racked up at least 30 catches for a passing attack that averaged 272.6 yards per game.
Even distribution was the result of a successful 2014 for Dews’ receivers. Ten players had 10 or more receptions and seven ended the season with 20+ receptions. Ten scored at least one touchdown while six had multiple scores. Jones, a newcomer, paced the group with 1,019 yards and nine scores. He averaged 14.0 yards per catch and 72.8 yards per game.
Playing for Dews for two seasons, Austin Hill ended his career with 150 receptions, 17 touchdowns and 2,305 yards. He hauled in a pass reception in 31-straight games played.
In 2013, Arizona’s receivers accumulated 2,269 yards from 196 receptions to average 11.6 yards per catch. Arizona’s receiving corps was headlined by two true freshmen in 2013. Nate Phillips was named a Freshman All-America by the Football Writers’ Association of America and earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors. He led the receivers with 51 catches for 696 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 13.6 yards per catch. He collected nine receptions and totaled 193 yards – the most ever by a true freshman in school history – in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl victory vs. Boston College. His yardage total is 11th-most in single-game history. Samajie Grant totaled 47 receptions for 373 yards and one touchdown.
Hill totaled 81 catches for 1,364 yards and 11 touchdowns to lead the Wildcat receivers in 2012. He was named a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, second-team All-Pac-12 and fourth-team All-America by Phil Steele. He ranked No. 2 in the Pac-12 in total receiving yards and yards per game (104.9).
Dews spent the 2011 season as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Pittsburgh. He coached with Rodriguez at Michigan for three years (2008-10), at West Virginia for one season (2007), and has coached at six other schools in his career.
He coached tight ends at Central Michigan in 2004 and 2005, serving as CMU’s special teams coordinator the final year. He coached linebackers and was associate special teams coordinator at UNLV in 2006 before joining Rodriguez’ staff at WVU the following year. Dews also coached the offensive line at California (Pa.) University in 2002, and the defensive line at Holy Cross in 2003 before joining the staff at Central Michigan.
Dews began his coaching career at Bainbridge (Ga.) High School as offensive line coach in 1997. He moved to the collegiate ranks as a graduate assistant at West Virginia from 1999-2001, then with his first full-time position at Millersville University outside Lancaster, Pa. in 1998, working with the defensive line.
A graduate of Liberty University in 1996, Dews earned a master’s degree from West Virginia in 2001. He played tight end and was the Flames’ leading receiver among tight ends his final two years at Liberty.
He and his wife, Tamika, have four daughters, Savannah, Sierra, Sydney and Sienna.
Dews' Coaching History
| 2012- |
Arizona, receivers |
| 2011 |
Pittsburgh, tight ends/recruiting coordinator |
| 2008-10 |
Michigan, receivers |
| 2007 |
West Virginia, receivers |
| 2006 |
UNLV, linebackers/special teams |
| 2004-05 |
Central Michigan, tight ends/special teams |
| 2003 |
Holy Cross, defensive line |
| 2002 |
California University (Pa.), offensive line |
| 1999-2001 |
West Virginia, graduate assistant |
| 1998 |
Millersville University, defensive line |
| 1997 |
Bainbridge High School (Ga.), offensive line |
Dews in the Bowls
| 2015 |
Gildan New Mexico Bowl, Arizona assistant |
| 2014 |
VIZIO Fiesta Bowl, Arizona assistant |
| 2013 |
AdvoCare V100 Bowl, Arizona assistant |
| 2012 |
Gildan New Mexico Bowl, Arizona assistant |
| 2011 |
BBVA Compass Bowl, Pittsburgh assistant |
| 2010 |
Gator Bowl, Michigan assistant |
| 2007 |
Fiesta Bowl, West Virginia assistant |
| 2000 |
Music City Bowl, West Virginia graduate assistant |
Tony Dews File
Hometown: Clifton, Va.
High School: Centreville
College: Liberty, 1996
Master’s: West Virginia, 2001
Playing Career: Liberty, 1992-95, tight end
Family: Wife, Tamika; Daughters, Savannah, Sierra, Sydney and Sienna
Recruiting Areas: Inland Empire (Calif.), Southern California, Kansas JUCOs
