Veteran defensive backs coach Duane Akina is set to return to Texas, replacing Terry Joseph, per Orangebloods.com.
Akina previously served as an assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator under former Texas head coach Mack Brown from 2001 to 2013. He spent the 2024 season as Arizona’s defensive coordinator before being reassigned to defensive backs coach in January.
Joseph, who was recently promoted to safeties coach at Texas, departed this week to take on his first NFL coaching role with the New Orleans Saints.
Joseph’s departure marks Texas’ third assistant coaching loss this offseason. Previously, safeties coach Blake Gideon left to become Georgia Tech’s defensive coordinator, while running backs coach Tashard Choice took the same role with the Detroit Lions.
Hired by Steve Sarkisian in January 2021 as a cornerbacks coach, Joseph played a key role in developing 2024 Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper projects Barron as a late first-round pick, ranking him the fourth-best cornerback in the 2025 draft class.
A New Orleans native and cousin of Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Terry Joseph will now serve as the Saints’ defensive passing game coordinator. He joins new defensive coordinator Braden Staley in an effort to improve a secondary that allowed the sixth-most passing yards in the NFL last season.
Joseph’s move brings him back to his hometown and reunites him with former Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford, who he coached during Ford’s All-Big 12 First Team junior and senior seasons. Though injuries limited Ford to special teams during his rookie year in New Orleans, he could be a better fit in Staley’s 3-4 scheme.
Joseph will also work closely with consensus five-star safety Jonah Williams, a top football and baseball recruit. Williams has drawn comparisons to Ravens All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, whom Joseph played a key role in recruiting while at Notre Dame.
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