From Desireé’s Desk – October 5, 2026
10/05/2026 | General
Dear Wildcats,
We just wrapped up a memorable Family Weekend, highlighted by a tremendous performance by our football team in their win over Cincinnati. As Coach Brennan said in his postgame remarks: That was a big-time college football atmosphere.
I couldn't agree more. It was great to see so many students enjoying time with their friends and family throughout the day and then bringing the energy to Casino Del Sol Stadium at kickoff. It was one of those moments where you recognize how Arizona Athletics can bring our campus together and create memories that last a lifetime.
Dazzling Display
Coach Brennan's squad clicked on all cylinders Saturday night in our 34-7 victory over the previously unbeaten Bearcats. Our offense rushed for 238 yards – it most since 2023 – and the defense kept Cincinnati off the scoreboard until the final two minutes. Our defensive line rightly earned Big 12 Defensive Line of the Week honors after limiting the Bearcats to just 74 yards on the ground.
The Wildcats are now 4-1 on the season and Coach Brennan is the first Arizona head coach to start 4-1 in consecutive seasons since Coach Tomey in 1993-94.
Next up is a tough cross-country road trip to West Virginia. Kickoff is at 9 a.m. MST Saturday on TNT. But then four of our last six games are in the friendly confines of Casino Del Sol Stadium so we need you to be there! Click here or call 520-621-CATS to secure your tickets.
Honoring Frank Busch
Our Wildcat community lost a beloved figure last week when former swimming coach Frank Busch passed away at the age of 75.
Coach Busch was Arizona's head swimming coach from 1989-2011 and led both the Wildcat men's and women's teams to a national championship in 2008. His swimmers won 49 NCAA individual titles and 31 NCAA relay titles. He earned NCAA Coach of the Year honors six times and was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year 11 times. Coach Busch also served on the Team USA coaching staff for the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games. He is a member of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Pima County Sports Hall of Fame and American Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame.
We honored Coach Busch this past weekend at our Red-Blue swimming and diving meet as well as our football game against Cincinnati. He was a legend in swimming and an important part of Arizona's history. He was a gentleman, a mentor and a powerful leader. His legacy is a reminder that our impact as leaders lives on through the people we invest in, encourage and believe in. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who loved him.
Air Show
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and DM50, its non-profit volunteer service organization, held a pregame tailgate event prior to our football game last month against Northern Illinois. When our team arrived for the Wildcat Walk, everyone looked to the skies to see a magnificent DMAFB flyover with one HC-130J aircraft and two HH-60W helicopters. It was a memorable gameday moment for thousands of Wildcat fans.
We are so thankful for our partners at DMAFB, not just for their role in protecting our freedom but also for their outstanding outreach efforts in Tucson and throughout Southern Arizona.
Fall Sports Roundup
Our volleyball team swept Texas Tech 3-0 Sunday at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena to earn their first conference victory of the season. Carlie Cisneros paced the Wildcats in both kills (11) and aces (4). Coach Stubbs' squad is back on this road this weekend with a two-game swing through the Lone Star State at TCU and Baylor.
Soccer rallied three times from a goal down to tie Oklahoma State 3-3 on the road this past Friday. The Wildcats return home to host Houston this Thursday at 7 p.m. We have had great support at Murphey Field at Mulcahy Stadium all season so let's continue to support Becca Moros and her team!
Evans Tanui was selected Big 12 Men's Cross Country Co-Runner of the Week last week after finishing second in the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational. Congratulations, Evan! Our men's team finished first overall and is now ranked No. 25 in the country. The Wildcats have one more meet – the Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., on October 16 – before Big 12 Championships at the end of the month.
Hall of Fame Celebration
Arizona Athletics will commemorate a historic milestone in 2026 with the 50th anniversary of the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, celebrating five decades of Wildcats excellence, tradition and achievement.
The 50th Anniversary will serve as a comprehensive tribute to the 386 individuals and 66 teams inducted into the Hall since its inception. All members will be invited back to campus to celebrate the excellence and championship tradition that define Arizona Athletics. We are honored to recognize inductees from the past 50 years because their achievements reflect the proud tradition of the Wildcat community and inspire future generations of Arizona student-athletes.
In addition, our 2025 triathlon team will be inducted for their national championship, and the event will also recognize significant heritage and tradition elements that have shaped the shared experience of all Wildcats and Wildcat supporters.
University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Weekend will kick off with an evening event at Casino Del Sol's Grand Ballroom on Friday, November 13, with celebrations continuing during our home football game against Utah on Saturday, November 14. Tickets for Friday's event are available for purchase at $75 per individual or $750 for a table of 10. Click here for ticket information and we hope to see you there!
Brand Building
Arizona Athletics announced last month that it has partnered with the university's Norton School of Human Ecology to launch an 18-unit undergraduate minor in Personal Brand and Money Management. The minor will leverage existing Norton School curriculum to create a concentrated course of study that focuses on two areas of modern life that increasingly require self-management skills – finances and professional identity.
We are grateful to partner with the Norton School on this impactful and innovative program. The Personal Brand and Money Management minor is imperative for our student-athletes in this new era of college athletics. It equips them to leverage their NIL opportunities here at the University of Arizona, build their brand, and learn valuable financial management skills that will position them as leaders in whatever career path they pursue after graduation.
The coursework covers personal finance, retail brand strategy, digital media, and leadership, giving students the tools to strategically develop both their personal brand and financial plan with confidence. The new minor further strengthens our partnership with the Norton School, which is housed within the university's College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences (CALES).
Cats Corner
- Our most recent CATS Connect Luncheon featured executives and employees from Banner University Medical Center sharing their experiences in the healthcare and medical industry and offering advice to those entering the workforce after graduation. Women's tennis student-athlete Josie Usereau moderated a panel discussion, and our student-athletes had the opportunity to ask questions and network with the group. Thank you to Banner for their continued partnership!
- Many thanks to the Big 12 for partnering with us to host the Allstate Empowerment Luncheon last week at the Dunlap Club. I was joined on a panel discussion with a remarkable group of women leaders, including women's basketball head coach Becky Burke, volleyball head coach Charita Stubbs, Casa Martinez CEO Adriana Martinez, Big 12 Impact Officer Jenn Hunter and Dr. Justine Schluntz, a former Wildcat national champion swimmer and current professor in our aerospace and mechanical engineering department. It was inspiring to hear their stories and their advice for our student-athletes.
- Our No. 22 women's golf tees off today against a formidable field in the Windy City Classic hosted by Northwestern.
- Our swimming and diving team hosted its Red-Blue intrasquad meet last week and now heads to Dallas to open its season at the SMU Classic starting Friday.
- Our top-ranked and defending national champion triathlon team hosts the Cactus Collegiate Cup on Saturday at 10 a.m. It's one of the few college triathlon meets held on a college campus, and there's no more beautiful campus than ours.
- Wildcats Basketball is just around the corner! Our men's team hosts three scrimmages this month, while our women's squad hosts two scrimmages. Big 12 Basketball Media Day for both teams is October 21 in Kansas City. The regular season tips off Monday, November 2, in Las Vegas when our women play Stanford and our men take on UCLA at T-Mobile Arena. We're looking forward to an exciting season of hoops at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena and we hope you can join us!
Last week the University announced that my contract has been extended for five years through March 2032. I am honored to continue serving the University and Arizona Athletics. Collectively, we understand the power of Arizona Athletics and what it means to our campus, our community and our alumni around the world. We will continue to pursue championships, graduate future leaders and make Wildcat Nation proud.
I am grateful for the incredible support of President Garimella and the Board of Regents, and our coaches and staff who work tirelessly to help our student-athletes excel in competition and in the classroom. I am also grateful for your support and belief in our mission. Thank you.
Bear Down and Go Cats!
