Names can be hard to remember. Lucky for you, we made a list of some of the people you should know while attending the University of Arizona.
Adia Barnes – Barnes is a UA almuna and head coach of the women’s basketball team, being hired back in April of 2016. This past season, Barnes led the team to one of its most successful seasons in school history, posting a 24-7 record and taking the team to its first Pac-12 Tournament Semifinals since 2011. She also recently signed a contract extension, making her the team’s head coach through 2024.
Mike Candrea – Candrea is the head coach for the softball team and is embarking on his 36th season at Arizona. He holds the most wins in NCAA softball history at the D-1 level while winning eight national championships and appearing in 23 Women’s College World Series. His resume doesn’t stop there as Candrea has also lifted the program to 11 conference championships and was named national coach of the year four times.
Dr. Richard Carmona – Carmona is the director of the UA Reentry Task Force, which is in charge of making decisions important to the campus reentry process of the UA. He is the 17th Surgeon General of the United States and is also a professor in the UA College of Public Health.
Liesl Folks – Folks is the senior vice president and provost at the University of Arizona. She is responsible for the budgeting and academic programs as well as overseeing the faculty at the UA.
Dave Heeke -Heeke is the Director of Arizona Athletics, holding the position for the past three years. Heeke’s impact has been immediate, making facility upgrades to Hillenbrand Softball Stadium, Hillenbrand Aquatic Center, McKale Center locker rooms and the construction of the Cole and Jeannie Davis Sports Center.
Jay Johnson – Johnson is the head coach of the Arizona baseball team. In his five years with the school, Johnson totaled a win/loss record of 163-96 and led the team to the 2016 College World Series Finals in his first season. With Johnson at the helm, Arizona has produced 15 All-Pac-12 first-team selections and 26 Major League Baseball draft picks.
Chris Kopach – As the head of facilities management at the UA, Kopach is responsible for the services and maintenance that support the University of Arizona campus.
Sean Miller – Head coach of the men’s basketball team, Miller enters his 12th season with the Wildcats. He holds an overall coaching record of 285–100 while also winning the Conference Coach of the Year Award four times during his tenure at Arizona.
Dr. Robert C. Robbins – Robbins is the president of the University of Arizona. He assumed the position in June of 2017 and also serves on the boards of the Arizona Commerce Authority, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. He is also a registered cardiac surgeon specializing in cardiac diseases.
Lisa Rulney – As chief financial officer, Rulney oversees 3,000 employees in Business Affairs. She handles not only the financial aspects of the university, but the operational aspects as well. Rulney served as the interim CFO for five months before being hired full-time in April of 2019.
Tara Singleton – Singleton is the Associated Students of the University of Arizona student body president and was elected into the position this past semester. ASUA is the student government at the UA that is involved in the politics, event planning, club maintenance and overall growth of the university.
Kevin Sumlin – As the fall season approaches, Sumlin enters his third year as the head coach of the football team. Sumlin spent the previous six seasons as the head coach at Texas A&M where he went 51-26 as the coach. He is 9-15 in his two years with Arizona.
John Byrd “Button” Salmon – Credited for creating the university’s motto “Bear Down.” Salmon was the quarterback of the football team in 1926. Salmon was returning home from a trip in Phoenix with a couple of his friends when they engaged in a car accident that hospitalized Salmon. Unable to attend the football game following the crash, Salmon told the team to “Bear Down” which sparked the win against New Mexico. Salmon died shortly after and the school held a memorial service in his honor. A statue of Salmon now sits outside Gate 3 of the Arizona Football Stadium.
Kendal Washington White – Washington White has been the Vice Provost and Dean of Students since 2014. The dean’s office oversees issues related to academic integrity and disruptive and/or threatening behavior on campus, as well as several different student support services and extracurricular programs.
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