Louisiana Tech hires Dykes to replace Dooley

Jan 21, 2010 - 2:37 AM RUSTON, La.(AP) -- Louisiana Tech hired Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes on Wednesday to replace Derek Dooley as head coach.

Dykes has coached in college for 15 years and has been with Arizona since 2007, serving as both offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He has never been a college head coach.

Last Friday, Dooley left Tech after three seasons to replace Lane Kiffin at Tennessee.

Dykes is the son of former longtime Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes. He played baseball for the Red Raiders in college and later returned to Lubbock to become an assistant football coach on Mike Leach's staff.

Dykes' spread offense helped revive Arizona's offense, which had struggled under coach Mike Stoops.

The Wildcats set numerous school passing records under Dykes and finished 10th in the country in passing in 2007. This season, Arizona won eight games and averaged 384.5 yards and 27.4 points per game.

He coached at Texas Tech for seven seasons under Leach, rising to co-offensive coordinator in 2005.

Louisiana Tech was 4-8 last season, finishing tied for fifth in the Western Athletic Conference at 3-5.