1989 Arizona “Desert Swarm” Defense Playbook – Dick Tomey

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The coach of the 1989 Arizona football team was Dick Tomey.

Dick Tomey was a highly respected college football coach known for his innovative defensive schemes and his ability to turn around struggling programs. He was the head coach at Arizona from 1987 to 2000, leading the Wildcats to seven bowl games and three Pac-10 titles. Prior to coaching at Arizona, Tomey had successful stints at Hawaii and San Jose State. He was known for his emphasis on discipline, toughness, and attention to detail, and was widely regarded as one of the best coaches of his era.

The 1989 Arizona football team coached by Dick Tomey had a record of 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the Pac-10 conference. This was the fourth season under Coach Tomey, and he had been gradually building the program, with the team achieving a winning record for the first time in a decade in 1986. In 1989, the Wildcats won their first five games of the season, including a victory over 19th-ranked Illinois, before losing three consecutive games. They rebounded to win their final three games, including a 17-3 victory over North Carolina State in the Copper Bowl. This was the Wildcats' first bowl victory in school history.

Dick Tomey's offense style at Arizona was known as the "Desert Swarm" offense. It was a ground-based offense that relied heavily on a strong running game, with a focus on ball control and time of possession. The team would use multiple formations and personnel groupings to keep defenses off balance, and the offense was designed to take advantage of the strengths of the players on the roster. Overall, the "Desert Swarm" offense was effective in controlling the game and keeping the opposing offense off the field.