Duane Akina: Coaching Beyond 70

Duane Akina, a coaching legend with 47 seasons under his belt, is set to join Kansas as senior analyst and nickelbacks coach just months shy of his 70th birthday—proving age is just a number when you’re obsessed with the game. From Washington to Hawaii, the CFL, Stanford, and multiple stints with Arizona and Texas, Akina’s journey spans decades and roles—from backup QB at UW to mentor of 40+ NFL defensive backs and three Thorpe Award winners. Though he narrowly missed a head coaching shot in 2007, his relentless dedication to player development and game strategy keeps him at the top of the coaching tree. His Jayhawks debut signals that his legendary impact on college football? Far from over. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0e8c1074e7cb6e48