Arizona

Arizona DC Danny Gonzales Discusses Decision on Tre Smith surgery

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2025

Arizona DC Danny Gonzales Discusses Decision on Tre Smith surgery

The loss of defensive lineman”Tre Smith is a vital part to what we do defensively because he’s so physical…it wasn’t showing up for him having significant tackles for loss, sacks…” according to coordinator Danny Gonzales when he spoke to reporters on Tuesday.

Smith has seven tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, 1.0 pass defended and one fumble recovery in four games played in 2025. In 2024, Smith was fourth on Arizona with 53 tackles, second with 7.5 TFLs, first with 4.5 sacks and had one pass defended and one forced fumble.

Smith was expected to be the top DL for Arizona in 2025. Malachi Bailey, Deshawn McKnight and Tia Savea started on the DL for Arizona with Smith out in the 33-27 loss at BYU on Saturday. Gonzales stated there are multiple ways to compensate for the loss of Smith.

Gonzales mentioned multiple DL, including the three who started versus BYU, as players who will be expected to contribute with Smithout for the season. Savea leads Arizona DL with 18 tackles in 2025 and has 2.0 TFLs. McKnight leads Arizona with 7.0 TFLs and Wildcat DL with 1.0 sack.

“The young man…really wanted to play through his injury…has not gone into a season in the last two years without something. He had surgery on his shoulder to fix his collarbone in the…early summer. So he missed the majority of summer weightlifting, recovering from that…We decided to have the surgery right now. We can get Trey another year of eligibility…And if we can get Trey Smith healthy with a full year and a half of development under coach Salave’a, I’m super excited for what that can do for our front next year with him. “
Arizona DC Danny Gonzales
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Smith played in season-opening wins over Hawaii and Weber State, missed the game against Kansas State and played against Iowa State and Oklahoma State before the decision to have surgery was made. Players can participate in up to four games in a season and maintain their redshirt.

Smith transferred to Arizona after playing under current Wildcat head coach Brent Brennan at San Jose State from 2021 through 2023. Smith played in 10 games as a true freshman at San Jose State in 2021, one in 2022 and had 66 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 13 games in 2023.

The hope is that the injury-limited seasons in 2022 and 2025 will grant Smith a sixth year as a medical redshirt. Arizona DL coach Joe Salave’a has an extended history of success developing players at the collegiate level. Arizona is eighth nationally in 2025, averaging 7.83 TFLs per game.

Bailey, McKnight and Savea are all seniors. If Smith returns, he will help set the foundation for Arizona on the DL in 2025 with the other starting defensive end, Domenic Lolesio. Smith has shown the ability at Arizona to reach the level he consistently had during his San Jose State tenure.

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Arizona

ASU, state of Arizona launch initiative to power up the public workforce

Published

15 hours ago

November 7, 2025

Press Room

ASU, state of Arizona launch initiative to power up the public workforce

Arizona’s public employees keep the state moving — maintaining infrastructure, supporting families and serving communities.

Through a new initiative from Arizona State University and the state of Arizona, these employees have the opportunity to strengthen key skills and apply them in service to their communities.

This statewide initiative brings together a broad portfolio of professional learning offerings developed by ASU’s schools and colleges — spanning business, data analytics and visualization, collaboration, leadership and more — to meet the evolving needs of Arizona’s workforce.

Participating ASU schools and colleges

The collaboration was created in response to employee engagement survey feedback that professional learning and development ranked among employees’ top priorities. Data also showed that employer-paid certifications are among the most valued workplace benefits, evidence that continued learning builds both satisfaction and performance in the workplace.

Due to its strong alignment with the needs of Arizona state employees, the program reached capacity just two weeks after launch. More than 1,000 employees expressed interest, and 600 have already enrolled. Additional enrollment will be offered as more space or funding becomes available.

In collaboration with their supervisors, employees were able to choose what fits their goals, such as a short course to sharpen computer application skills or a longer certificate that builds leadership, data and technology expertise. Every option is flexible, practical and available to eligible employees at no cost.

“Arizona’s state employees are the heart of public service. This partnership invests in them — helping our workforce strengthen its skills, stay adaptable and continue delivering the best possible service to the people of Arizona,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said. “The incredible demand for the program shows how much state employees value high-quality professional development and the opportunity to earn a credential, which will generate a strong return on investment for the state.”

Preparing Arizona’s workforce for the future

Across industries, work is being reshaped by new technologies, automation and artificial intelligence.

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 “Future of Jobs Report,” nearly 40% of job skills will change within the next five years, while more than 170 million new roles will emerge globally as others evolve or disappear.

Arizona’s public agencies are navigating that same transformation. The ASU-Arizona partnership provides a structured, accessible way for employees to build digital fluency, strengthen leadership and enhance problem-solving skills relevant to their roles in government.

ASU, ranked No. 1 in the nation for innovation by U.S. News & World Report for 11 consecutive years, already has supported more than 1 million learners worldwide through its continuing and professional learning programs.

A leader in workforce development, the newest Global Employability University Ranking and Survey, or GEURS, again ranked ASU second among public U.S. universities for employable graduates — ahead of UCLA, the University of Michigan and Purdue. That same expertise now supports Arizona’s public workforce, offering learning experiences that help employees meet today’s challenges while preparing for those ahead.

“As a lifelong Arizonan, I’ve seen firsthand the impact public employees have in every community across our state,” said Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost. “Arizona will continue to thrive thanks to programs like this one, which ensures that our public employees have opportunities to learn and grow throughout their careers. This partnership reflects ASU’s commitment to transforming the university experience into a lifelong relationship that empowers people at every stage of life.”

Practical learning with measurable value

Eligible employees were able to participate in one of two program types designed to meet different professional goals:

Skills-based courses, focused primarily on digital and project management skills — including areas such as data analytics, agile project management and technology-enabled collaboration — many of which can be completed in eight hours or less.
Career certificate programs, providing deeper study in leadership, strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making.

Each offering provides practical, job-relevant tools that employees can apply immediately in their work. Upon completion, participants earn a digital credential from ASU, which can be shared in professional portfolios or annual performance evaluations.

The partnership also includes up to eight keynote sessions throughout the year, led by ASU experts, on leadership, innovation and managing change — giving employees a chance to learn together and share ideas across agencies.

By connecting the state’s workforce goals with ASU’s learning resources, the collaboration strengthens leadership and innovation across public service and supports Arizona’s capacity to adapt, grow and shape what’s next.

Learn more

While the program is at capacity, eligible employees can visit hr.az.gov/asu-careercatalyst-program to explore available offerings and join an interest list.

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Arizona

Hamilton vs. Chandler: Watch live Arizona high school football showdown Friday night (11/7/2025)

Published

1 day ago

November 6, 2025

Press Room

Hamilton vs. Chandler: Watch live Arizona high school football showdown Friday night (11/7/2025)

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The undefeated Hamilton Huskies (9-0, 3-0) travel to take on the red-hot Chandler Wolves (8-1, 3-0) in a pivotal 6A Fiesta League regular-season finale showdown on Friday night. With both teams sporting impressive resumes, this matchup is a can’t-miss battle for supremacy in one of Arizona’s top high school football rivalries.

The Huskies have been dominant all season, most recently cruising to a 63-0 victory over Cesar Chavez. Sophomore quarterback Jax Sculley tossed three touchdown passes, while fellow sophomore Jake Disanti added two more scoring strikes, and senior signal-caller Daniel Vaita also found the end zone through the air in the rout.

Chandler enters this clash riding a seven-game winning streak after last week’s 28-22 triumph over Pinnacle. Junior quarterback Will Mencl was the catalyst, throwing for 338 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for two scores. Sophomore running back David Douglas chipped in with a rushing touchdown of his own in the victory.

Opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m. MT on Friday, November 7 with a live TV broadcast on NFHS Network.

• WATCH: Hamilton vs. Chandler football is livestreaming on NFHS Network

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