For the first time in his life, Tim Kish is the head coach of a football team.

So what’s priority No. 1?

“Discipline,” Kish said. “There will be no compromise on the discipline.”

Tuesday was Kish’s first day on the job since taking over for former head coach Mike Stoops, who was fired on Monday following Saturday’s loss at Oregon State — Arizona’s 10th straight loss against Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

Kish said Stoops has not addressed the team, but will have the opportunity if he chooses to do so. Players and assistant coaches are off-limits to the media until after Wednesday’s practice.
“It’s all 120 of us working together that’s going to fix the problem,” Kish said.

Kish said Tuesday’s practice was about giving the team a looser mentality and starting the process of moving on from the Stoops era.

“I knew today was going to be a struggle,” Kish said. “I had the sense that maybe the guys didn’t want to come out today, and I didn’t think that was the right approach. We’re just trying to come out here and have a little fun during the day and remember why we’re playing the game.”

Moving on from Arizona’s 1-5 start is also a priority for Kish, who said he doesn’t have any personal goals for the rest of the season.

As far as team goals, Kish said the Wildcats are taking things day by day instead of putting added pressure on putting together the 5-1 finish that’s necessary for Arizona to reach a bowl game.

“We want to make sure we’re headed in a good direction and put closure on the first half of the season,” Kish said. “We’re looking at this as a new season for us and a new opportunity.”

Kish said Arizona’s offensive staff will be the same as it has been for the first six games of 2011, but the ex-defensive coordinator said that things may change on the defensive side of the ball.

“I’m looking into that right now,” Kish said. “We’re going to see what can happen there. I’m not sure exactly where that goes, but there’s one individual that I’d like to see if we can get involved with us a little bit.”

Kish will also return to coaching from the sidelines after coaching from the press box since the Sept. 24 game against Oregon.

But while he’ll be in the same location as his predecessor, Kish said his demeanor won’t be quite as excitable.

“I’m gonna be who I am,” Kish said. “I have a different approach than Mike (Stoops). There isn’t one right approach. I just want these kids to enjoy playing the game of football again, and hopefully we can instill that in them.”

Kish said his time as Arizona’s head coach is off to a good start.

“We needed to come out here and get things moving in the right direction,” Kish said. “It turned out great. We even made a couple field goals, so that was good.”