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Arizona football fires defensive coordinator Marcel Yates

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After a disappointing defensive performance at Stanford, and a lack of overall progress on that side of the ball, Arizona Wildcats coach Kevin Sumlin has decided to make some significant changes.

Sumlin has fired defensive coordinator Marcel Yates and linebackers coach John Rushing.

Senior defensive analyst Chuck Cecil, a 15-year NFL coaching veteran, will take charge of the defense and presumably the safeties, whom Yates also coached. Another analyst, Hank Hobson, will be given additional responsibilities — presumably including the linebackers. That was the position Rushing coached.