Danny Gonzales enters his third season with the Wildcats in 2026, and his second as defensive coordinator. He was hired by head coach Brent Brennan on January 25, 2024 as the program's special teams coordinator and linebackers coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator on January 9, 2025.
During his two and a half decades of coaching, Gonzales has racked up 164 victories and 15 bowl game appearances.
With the Wildcats
Following his promotion to defensive coordinator for the 2025 season, Gonzales helped engineer one of the greatest defensive turnarounds in the country and constructed a top 25 unit. Under his direction the Wildcats climed 86 spots in the national rankings in total defense, 87 spots in scoring defense, 95 spots in pass defense, 95 spots in interceptions, 15 spots in fumble recoveries, 49 spots in first downs allowed, and 65 spots in third down defense — at the end of the season Arizona's defense ranked among the top 25 defenses in FBS in all of those categories.
Gonzales pass defense led the way in 2025, helping to steer the Wildcats to a nine-win season and a berth in the Trust & Will Holiday Bowl. Under Gonzales' leadership and the veteran presence of four eventual NFL Draft selections in Treydan Stukes, Genesis Smith, Dalton Johnson, and Michael Dansby the Wildcats ranked first in the nation in pass efficiency defense (97.20), second in interceptions (22), seventh in pass defense (165.3), second in turnovers gained (31), and first in turnover margin (1.38). Those four Arizona defensive backs selected in the NFL Draft tied the record for the most DBs selected from one school in a single draft.
When the dust settled on the 2025 season, Gonzales' defense recorded more turnovers gained (31) than touchdowns allowed (28). Stukes and Johnson both pulled in First Team All-Big 12 selections, while six others landed on the Third Team and Honorable Mention squads. The 2025 Wildcats 31 turnovers created were the most for the program since the 2000 team created 33, while their 22 interceptions were the most by an Arizona squad since 1985.
Gonzales' defenses gained steam as the season went on, and as games progressed — the Wildcats allowed an average of just 6.46 points in the second half of games in 2025 and pitched second half shutouts in each of the last three games of the season. Over the course of 13 games, the Arizona defense logged 19 scoreless quarters.
In his first season at Arizona, Gonzales helped steer kicker Tyler Loop to an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention nod and an eventual selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. He also oversaw the Wildcats linebacker unit, led by Taye Brown who finished second on the team with 69 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two and a half sacks.
Before Arizona
Gonzales joined the Wildcats in 2024 after spending the previous four seasons as the head coach at New Mexico from 2020–23. Gonzales brought 151-career wins as a coach to the Wildcats since entering the coaching world as a graduate assistant with New Mexico in 1999.
He joined his mentor and former coach Rocky Long as Lobo football players returning to coach at their alma mater. Â
In 2022 under Gonzales, New Mexico lowered its total defense yards per game allowed, and the program cut 125.5 yards per game off the total prior to Gonzales arrival. The season prior UNM had a top-30 passing defense, with the Lobos allowing just 202.8 yards per game through the air, finishing No. 30 in the nation after inheriting one of the worst pass defensive teams in the nation in 2019. Â
Gonzales helped New Mexico finish in the top 50 in total defense in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2007-08. The Lobo defense finished in the top 35 in third down defense and in the top 25 in defensive first downs allowed during the 2022 season. Â
Safety A.J. Haulcy earned Freshman All-American giving the Lobos their first All-American since 2014. New Mexico had eight players selected All-Mountain West, tying for the most in the past 10 seasons, and three Second-Team All-Mountain West selections, the second most in the last 10 years. Â
Gonzales has a pair of degrees from The University of New Mexico, earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration and general management in 1998 and a master’s degree in physical education and recreation in 2002. Danny and his wife Sandra have four children: Cole, Jake, Chloe and Abby.
Danny Gonzales Coaching Experience
- 2025–present: Arizona (Defensive Coordinator)
- 2024: Arizona (Special Teams Coordinator /Â Linebackers)
- 2020–23: New Mexico (Head Coach)
- 2018–19: Arizona State (Defensive Coordinator)
- 2017: San Diego State (Defensive Coordinator)
- 2011–16: San Diego State (Assistant Coach - Safeties)
- 2006–08: New Mexico (Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties)
- 2003–05: New Mexico (Video Coordinator)
- 1999–2002: New Mexico (Graduate Assistant)
Danny Gonzales Postseason Experience
- 2002: Las Vegas Bowl (New Mexico)
- 2003: Las Vegas Bowl (New Mexico)
- 2004: Emerald Bowl (New Mexico)
- 2006: New Mexico Bowl (New Mexico)
- 2007: New Mexico Bowl (New Mexico)
- 2011: New Orleans Bowl (San Diego State)
- 2012: Poinsettiea Bowl (San Diego State)
- 2013: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (San Diego State)
- 2014: Poinsettia Bowl (San Diego State)
- 2015: Hawai'i Bowl (San Diego State)
- 2016: Las Vegas Bowl (San Diego State)
- 2017: Armed Forces Bowl (San Diego State)
- 2018: Las Vegas Bowl (Arizona State)
- 2019: Sun Bowl (Arizona State)
- 2025: Holiday Bowl (Arizona)
Last updated: April 30, 2026
