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"Hammer" is coming back home.

Former Arizona Wildcats safety Jeff Hammerschmidt was hired Wednesday to coach the UA's special teams and defensive line. He replaced Joe Robinson, who left the staff this month to take a similar job at LSU.

"I'm fired up," Hammerschmidt said Wednesday. "I'm more excited because I took a long way to get back there. Knowing that I'm coming back, I can't even tell you, it feels really good."

The hire marks Hammerschmidt's second stint on the UA Wildcats staff. He coached defensive backs from 1993 to 1995 under Dick Tomey; before that, he spent a year as a graduate assistant. Hammerschmidt, comes to Tucson from San Jose State, where he spent the 2007 season as the linebackers coach under Tomey.

Hammerschmidt, 40, is probably best remembered for his play as a UA free safety. He was named first-team All-Pac-10 in 1989.

Hammerschmidt was also the consummate team player: When quarterback Bobby Watters hurt his thumb early in 1987, Hammerschmidt was moved to offense. He played the final six games under center.

"He's a guy who played in a great era of Arizona football," coach Mike Stoops said. "We wanted to get an Arizona guy back here if we could. It's the right time, the right place, the right fit."

Hammerschmidt coached at six schools before rejoining Tomey in San Jose.

Hammerschmidt said Tomey was "ecstatic" when Hammerschmidt told him he had been hired at Arizona.

"He said: 'It's great for you. It's great for Coach Stoops,'" Hammerschmidt said. "He's fired up for Arizona football now that I have a chance to do this."

Antoine Cason's unofficial 40-yard dash time was released by the NFL on Tuesday as 4.49 seconds. Cason informed the Star on Wednesday that his official time was 4.47 seconds.