Staff Directory

Duane Akina

Title:
Assistant Defensive Backs Coach / Senior Analyst
Email:
Phone:
864-3392

Duane Akina joined the Kansas football staff as a senior defensive analyst in 2026, working with the Kansas defensive backs. Akina brings more than four decades of collegiate coaching experience and is widely regarded as one of the premier defensive backs coaches in college football history. Throughout his distinguished career, he has coached multiple award winners, All-Americans, and NFL defensive backs while helping lead championship-caliber programs across the country.

Akina arrives in Lawrence after serving as Defensive Passing Game Coordinator and Safeties Coach at Texas during the 2025 season. His return to Austin marked his second stint with the Longhorns, where he previously spent 13 seasons coaching defensive backs and serving as co-defensive coordinator. During that tenure, he helped Texas capture the 2005 national championship while developing some of the most accomplished defensive backs in program history.

Prior to his return to Texas, Akina spent two seasons at Arizona, serving as a defensive analyst in 2023 before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2024. He also spent nine seasons at Stanford from 2014-22 as the Cardinal's defensive backs coach, continuing his long-standing reputation for developing elite secondary play and NFL talent.

Before joining Texas in 2001, Akina spent 14 seasons at Arizona under legendary head coach Dick Tomey. During his tenure with the Wildcats, he served in a variety of roles, including defensive backs coach, offensive coordinator, assistant head coach, and defensive coordinator. He played a key role in the development of Arizona's nationally renowned "Desert Swarm" defenses and helped establish the Wildcats as one of the premier defensive programs in the country.

Over the course of his coaching career, Akina has mentored three Jim Thorpe Award winners, numerous All-Americans, and dozens of NFL defensive backs. His former players include Michael Huff, Aaron Ross, Earl Thomas, Quentin Jammer, Chris McAlister, and Darryll Lewis. His success in player development helped establish Texas' nationally recognized "DBU" tradition and has made him one of the most respected defensive backs coaches in the game.

A native of Hawaii, Akina began his coaching career at Washington before returning to his home state to coach at Hawaii. Over more than 40 years in the profession, he has built a reputation for elite player development, defensive innovation, and championship success at every stop of his career.