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Arizona’s Caponi reportedly joining West Virginia as safeties coach

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Arizona assistant Matt Caponi has agreed to become West Virginia’s new safeties coach, sources confirmed Tuesday.

Arizona photo

Matt Caponi

FootballScoop.com first reported the hire.

Mountaineers head coach Dana Holgorsen and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson made Caponi, 33, their top target last week after deciding against renewing the $375,000 contract of safeties coach Joe DeForest. Sources said West Virginia also contacted a second candidate from an FCS program in case Caponi was unwilling to leave Rich Rodriguez’s staff at Arizona.

Rodriguez last week fired defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jeff Casteel and defensive line coach Bill Kirelawich but planned to retain Caponi.