Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Desiree Reed-Francois across Football, Basketball.
Arizona head coach Brent Brennan addressed the media in Frisco, Texas, outlining the program’s cultural pillars, recent successes, and goals for a sustainable winning future.
The Big 12 will place co‑branded Monster Energy patches on all 16 member school uniforms, with each school receiving about $1 million annually and the brand taking over court and field logos.
The Big 12 Conference has struck a $20 million‑per‑year agreement with Monster Energy, a deal that will see sponsor patches emblazoned on uniforms and on the courts and fields of football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball across the league. Under the arrangement, each of the conference’s 16 member institutions will receive roughly $1 million annually, a modest but meaningful infusion that can be directed toward athletic programs and scholarships. The pact does not preclude schools from pursuing their own jersey‑patch agreements, provided they avoid competing energy‑drink brands, a clause that leaves room for additional commercial partnerships. Arizona has been particularly aggressive on the naming‑rights front, having recently sold the naming rights to Arizona Stadium for a $60 million, 20‑year contract and rebranding McKale Center as the McKale Center at ALKEME Arena in a $27.7 million, 15‑year deal. Athletic director Desiree Reed‑Francois is now actively seeking further jersey‑patch opportunities, aiming to bolster the department’s finances amid a competitive landscape where conference revenue is increasingly tied to sponsorship visibility.
The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is evaluating a shortlist of candidates to replace Chris McIntosh, with Arizona’s Desiree Reed‑Francois among the names considered, though her deep ties to the Wildcats make her selection uncertain.
The Wildcats' 2026 Final Four run, Lloyd's contract extension, and the program's long‑term vision.
Arizona’s men’s basketball program, led by Tommy Lloyd, broke a 25‑year drought with a 2026 Final Four appearance, posting a 148‑36 record in his first five seasons and setting an ambitious goal of five Final Fours in ten years.
Jackson Francois, a University of Arizona alumnus, serves as head boys basketball coach at Walden Grove and offensive coordinator for Sahuaro’s football team, aiming to build winning programs and eventually become a football agent.
After a rocky first year, coach Brent Brennan guided the Arizona Wildcats to a 9‑3 record, a Holiday Bowl berth and record‑breaking performances by quarterback Noah Fifita. With key recruits from Texas and contract extensions for Brennan, Seth Doege and Danny Gonzales, the program looks to sustain its upward trajectory.