This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

There's some big moving and shaking in the Pac-12, somewhat downplayed by a holiday weekend. And the biggest move of all isn't a coach.

Under Byrne, the Arizona athletic department budget has grown from $45 million to $80 million. Byrne hired football coach Rich Rodriguez and baseball coach Jay Johnson, moved Wildcats' baseball program off-campus to Hi Corbett Field and oversaw renovations to Arizona Stadium and McKale Center. Byrne's next fundraising project was supposed to be a modernization of Arizona Stadium, replacing the old facility's metal bleachers with chairbacks.

Byrne's biggest accomplishment may have been the hire he didn't have to make. The AD successfully negotiated an extension with basketball coach Sean Miller after he interviewed at Maryland in 2011. The commitment, which included a commitment to better facilities and charter flights for his team, cemented a bond between the two men and their families.

At 45, Byrne was one of the most energetic, forward-thinking ADs wielding power in the Pac-12 — he had a voice in the business of college sports as well as the NCAA at large. Arizona will surely feel his absence, but so will the conference.

It will be interesting to see how Byrne thrives or wilts moving to Tuscaloosa, in the shadow of Nick Saban.

Other moving and shaking:

• From the San Jose Mercury News:http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/01/14/cal-announces-justin-wilcox-hire/";> The Cal Golden Bears hire 40-year-old Justin Wilcoxhttp://www.mercurynews.com/2017/01/14/cal-announces-justin-wilcox-hire/";>, who returns to the Pac-12 after a yearlong exile in Nebraska. He has experience as the defensive coordinator at USC, Washington, Tennessee and Boise State. One of his first hires is Troy Taylor's last boss: He plucked Eastern Washington head coach Beau Baldwin as his offensive coordinator. Ready for the comparisons for years to come?

• Multiple outlets reported yesterday that UCLA fired Adrian Klemm, http://www.insidesocal.com/ucla/2017/01/15/ucla-adrian-klemm-part-ways/";>the offensive line coach who was at one time considered a recruiting star, but presided over an underachieving unit. Among other things, the Bruins couldn't run the ball this year despite having some of the best talent in the league.

• Some welcome news for Utah fans: http://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/la-sp-adoree-jackson-usc-nfl-20170116-htmlstory.html";>Adoree Jackson has declared for the 2017 NFL Draft — not a shocker for the USC dynamo who won the Thorpe Award for the nation's best defensive back. It will be a relief for the Utes. Two of Jackson's four career kickoff return touchdowns came at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

• It figures that Oregon, with a loaded list of returners, would have possibly the country's best sixth man. Chris Boucher had 110 blocks last year, but he has come off the bench for the last five games for the Ducks, who have now won 14 games in a row. http://registerguard.com/rg/sports/35184119-81/chris-boucher-content-with-reserve-role-for-oregon-basketball.html.csp";>And the Register-Guard reports he's OK with his role.

APROPOS OF NOTHING • It's easy to joke about the players who get sent back and forth between NBA teams and their D-league affiliates constantly. But it's a tough adjustment — going from luxury hotels and charter travel to motels and a bus.http://www.sltrib.com/sports/1966250-155/utah-jazz-rudy-goberts-passion-and?fullpage=1";> Aaron Falk wrote a good story on this phenomenon a few years ago about Rudy Gobert.

The latest telling of this story comes from The San Francisco Chronicle's Connor Letourneau (a Pac-12 beat writer alum) who takes http://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/Warriors-rookie-Jones-yearns-to-put-Santa-Cruz-10858258.php?t=d44c4d167d&cmpid=twitter-premium";>a look at the life of Golden State Warrior Damian Jones:

Jones is part of professional basketball's striving class, hundreds of players throughout the country who toil in a lesser league in hopes of landing a more permanent place in the NBA. A 7-foot project, Jones navigates a split existence: the seemingly constant yo-yoing between the NBA's best team and its Development League affiliate.

Hours before, in the Warriors' pregame layup line at Oracle Arena, Jones, 21, had traded passes with Stephen Curry, who is poised to sign the biggest contract in NBA history this summer. In Santa Cruz, Jones would rejoin teammates earning $19,500 or $26,000, the D-League's two annual salary levels.

It's a wild world of contrasts out there.

kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon