Pat Nugent, head coach of Canyon del Oro’s powerful football program for eight years, is being recommended to become the first full-time football coach at Pima Community College by chancellor Dr. Roy Flores.
Flores’ presents Nugent as his choice at a board meeting Jan. 14.
In eight seasons at CDO, Nugent’s teams have gone 72-29, and played in the state championship football game a year ago.
“We are very pleased at the prospect of having Patrick Nugent as the head football coach at Pima Community College,” said PCC Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Services Robert Riza. “Patrick is an outstanding coach and an exceptional person. His experience in helping build winning football programs speaks for itself. Beyond that, he is a man of great character, who we feel will be able to recruit student-athletes who will excel in the class room and on the football field. We are very excited for the future of Aztec football under Patrick’s guidance.”
In Nugent’s first year as the head coach at CDO, he led a team that had been 0-10 the previous year to a record of 6-4. He then went on to guide the program to five conference championships and six playoff appearances.
Nugent, who worked as a student manager for football at the University of Arizona while earning his undergraduate degree, worked for Coaches Larry Smith and Dick Tomey. He credits this experience with shaping his future in football.
