Arizona State found its new offensive coordinator on the staff of one of the best programs in college football.
According to multiple reports including USA Today and Fox Sports and first reported by AL.com, Alabama wide receivers coach Billy Napier will be the Sun Devils’ offensive coordinator in 2017. Napier spent four years with Alabama as the team’s wide receivers coach after working with Florida coach Jim McElwain at Colorado State in 2012.
ASU was in the market for a new coordinator because of the departure of Chip Lindsey to Auburn. The Tigers hired Lindsey after offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee went to UConn to call plays. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has ceded control of offensive playcalling to Lindsey as part of Lindsey’s move to the SEC.
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Napier inherits a familiar face at quarterback with the Sun Devils. Former Alabama quarterback Blake Barnett transferred to Arizona State after leaving the Tide early in the 2016 season. While he won’t be eligible at the start of the 2017 season he should be in October or so.
The addition of Napier means ASU will have two new coordinators in 2017 following a 5-7 season in 2016. The team previously announced the hire of former Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Bennett to the same position.
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Per AZCentral.com, there was “mutual interest” at one point between Arizona State and former Cal coach Sonny Dykes to be the team’s OC, but Dykes is staying in his offensive analyst position at TCU. The Horned Frogs hired Dykes after he was fired from Cal in January.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
