When someone says "DBU," people think of the Texas Longhorns and former assistant coach Duane Akina.
The legendary defensive backs coach turned the Texas football program into a factory of elite cornerbacks and safeties, dominating the defensive secondary against virtually every single opponent that crossed his path.
Over 12 years working under head coach Mack Brown, Akina developed Longhorn Legends until both he and Brown parted ways from Texas.
Now, Akina has found himself back in the Big 12. After spending nearly a decade among Pac-12 programs, he has been hired as the Kansas Jayhawks' senior analyst and nickelbacks coach.
Kansas is hiring veteran coach Duane Akina as a senior analyst/nickels coach, a source tells @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) June 9, 2026
Was defensive pass game coordinator at Texas last year and defensive coordinator at Arizona in 2024. Has coached more than 40 future NFL DBs and three Thorpe Award winners. pic.twitter.com/AjvoDuqebJ
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian hired Akina in 2025, but the legendary assistant coach lasted just one year under him and then-defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski before the Longhorns decided to head in another direction.
Duane Akina brings veteran leadership to Kansas coaching staff
Kansas head coach Lance Leipold has only been in the coaching game since 1987. While that is over four decades of experience, it doesn't quite stack up to Akina's time on the scene.
Akina started his coaching career in 1979 as a graduate assistant for the Washington Huskies. He then went on to a five-year tenure with the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, his first stint as a defensive backs coach.
In 1987, Akina began one of his lengthiest career roles as the defensive backs coach, offensive coordinator, and then assistant head coach for the Arizona Wildcats.
He spent one season in the CFL as the defensive backs coach for the Calgary Stampeders before returning to the collegiate scene one year later.
Brown hired Akina in 2001, adding him to the Texas staff as the Horns' defensive backs coach. He was promoted to the team's assistant head coach and then co-defensive coordinator. Akina was expected to be the Longhorns' next DC until Brown named Will Muschamp to the role in 2008.
From 2014 until 2022, Akina acted as the defensive backs coach for the Stanford Cardinal before returning to Arizona as an analyst, eventually earning the position as the Wildcats' DC in 2024 before returning to Texas in 2025.
During his most recent stint with the Horns, the Texas defensive secondary earned 43 pass deflections and 16 interceptions for 51 yards. It was led by elite junior defensive back Jelani McDonald, who is now set to start his redshirt junior season with the Longhorns.
Also read: 3 reasons why Steve Sarkisian and Texas should not hire Mack Brown in any role
During his first 13-year stint with the Longhorns, Akina led 15 defensive backs to becoming NFL Draft picks, including first-round picks Quentin Jammer (2002), Michael Huff (2006), Michael Griffin (2007), Aaron Ross (2007), and Earl Thomas (2010).
Huff and Ross were both honored with the Thorpe Award in 2005 and 2006, respectively, under Akina's leadership and coaching.
While his time at Texas may not have panned out according to plan, other than winning the 2005 BCS National Championship under Brown (not to brag), Akina is undoubtedly a Longhorn Legend, and his nickname, the "Architect of DBU," is just the start of his lore.
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