Edwards, the ex-ESPN analyst who hasn’t coached anywhere since 2008 and not in college since 1989, is officially the head coach for the Sun Devils, but the plan was for him to take on more of a general manager/CEO role in a more NFL-esque power structure. Arizona State called it a “new leadership model.”
That plan was put in place in part to give offensive coordinator Billy Napier and defensive coordinator Phil Bennett more responsibility — and to keep them on staff despite firing former head coach Todd Graham.
The plan has already backfired.
Bennett announced Tuesday he will leave the program for “personal reasons” after Arizona State plays in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 29. Napier is also leaving, after accepting the head coaching job at Louisiana-Lafayette, Football Scoop reported Friday.
Napier was promoted to associate head coach when Edwards was hired. He came to Arizona State before this season after spending four years as the wide receivers coach at Alabama. Bennett joined the program before this season after being part of disgraced coach Art Briles’ staff at Baylor.
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Now Edwards, who was announced as Arizona State’s coach Dec. 4 but continued to work for ESPN in Bristol, Conn., through Dec. 8, has no coordinators and college football’s new early signing period for recruits is five days away (Dec. 20-22). The Sun Devils currently have 11 commitments and the No. 70 class in the country (No. 10 in the Pac-12), according to the 247Sports composite rankings.
Four players have de-committed from the school since Graham was fired on Nov. 25, including three since Edwards was hired. One of them was offensive tackle Jarrett Patterson, who was the lone four-star player committed in Arizona State’s 2018 class. The Sun Devils have not added any 2018 commitments since Edwards was hired.
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