Coach Boone is the new linebackers coach joining Arizona in December after 3 years as the defensive coordinator for Nevada. He has spent 34 years as a college football coach with a stint as a head coach for Randolph-Macon (1997-2003 going 37-33 with one conference title) and 6 years as a defensive coordinator at William and Mary (2011-2013) and Nevada (2014-2016).
Here's a description of Boone's time at Nevada from his official bio:
The Wolf Pack yielded 34.4 points per game in 2013, but never allowed more than 30 points per game in the three seasons under Boone’s direction.
The 2014-15 seasons were particularly successful for Boone. His initial Wolf Pack defense allowed 27.2 points and 447.1 yards allowed, while also making statistical strides in scoring defense, rushing defense, total defense, sacks, tackles for loss, interceptions, fumbles recovered, third down and red zone defense from the year prior.
Boone set the bar even higher in year two, as Nevada improved to just 405 yards and 26.8 points allowed per game. His efforts in the 2015 season culminated with a victory in the inaugural NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, which marked Nevada’s fifth all-time bowl victory. Boone’s unit again improved in total defense and scoring defense, and grabbed 13 interceptions and recovered eight fumbles to help Nevada rank 15th in the nation in turnover margin.
Player development was notable under Boone’s leadership. In 2015, he helped senior DE Ian Seau, who led the conference and ranked 19th in the nation with 10.0 sacks, earn first team All-Mountain West honors. Senior DE Lenny Jones also earned second team All-MW accolades with 47 tackles and seven sacks that season. Boone’s development of true freshman DB Dameon Baber saw the rookie rank seventh in the nation with six interceptions on the season en route to earning All-MW honors.
41 is the Arizona record for the most punt returns in a season by one player set by Jackie Wallace in 1971.
