ASU offensive coordinator Billy Napier shocked many Sun Devil fans when he took the head coaching job at Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday morning. Diana Payan/ azcentral sports
Bennett: Meeting with Herm Edwards Saturday Jeff Metcalfe/azcentral sports
On returning to ASU under new head coach Herm Edwards Jeff Metcalfe/azcentral sports
azcentral sports' Chris Cole asks Arizona high school football players how much they know about new Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards on Tuesday. Carly Henry/azcentral sports
The east side of Sun Devil Stadium was demolished during the first week of December 2017. It is the final major phase of the stadium renovation. The venue will be ready for the 2018 season. Wochit
azcentral sports' Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley discuss ASU football's head coach position and the Phoenix Suns in our Shot Clock video.
ASU football's defensive coordinator Phil Bennett discusses Herm Edwards, who is reportedly in line to take the Sun Devils job. By Rob Schumacher
Arizona State head coach Todd Graham talks about the Territorial Cup victory over Arizona and his feelings for ASU. By Rob Schumacher
Doug Haller and Jeff Metcalfe discuss the pending hiring of Herm Edwards by Arizona State's Vice President of Athletics Ray Anderson, with an announcement possible coming next week.
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Mark Faller and Dan Bickley discuss Herm Edwards and the ASU football coaching position as well as a possible succession plan in our Shot Clock video.
Shot Clock video: J.J. Hensley and Mark Faller discuss Herm Edwards and the open ASU football coaching position.
A timelapse over the course of eight months during the rebuild of the west side of Sun Devil Stadium. Video: Sun Devil Athletics
Graham: "I'm a Sun Devil. I think I always will be. A couple of my kids graduated from here. I didn't build this place to tear it down." Patrick Breen/azcentral sports
ASU Vice President of Athletics Ray Anderson discusses the decision to fire football coach Todd Graham on Sunday.
Doug Haller and Greg Moore discuss the evolving situation for ASU football Patrick Breen/azcentral sports
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A statue of Pat Tillman was exhibited at the north end zone of Sun Devil Stadium.
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ASU offensive coordinator Billy Napier
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ASU offensive coordinator Billy Napier
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Michael Crow on ASU football coaching situation
ASU unveils Pat Tillman statue
Arizona State offensive coordinator Billy Napier accepted an offer to become Louisiana at Lafayette's head coach on Friday, creating yet more turnover at that critical position for ASU.
azcentral sports has also learned that Napier will stay on with ASU through the Sun Bowl on Dec. 29 against North Carolina State in El Paso, Texas.
ASU Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson hoped to retain Napier and defensive coordinator Phil Bennett under new head coach Herm Edwards. Instead, both are leaving – Napier for his first head coaching opportunity and Bennett because of health and other personal reasons.
Napier was promoted to ASU associate head coach on Dec. 5, one day after Edwards was introduced as the replacement for fired Todd Graham.
Among the reasons Anderson cited in Graham’s dismissal after six seasons was inability to retain key staff members. He said he did not want returning starting quarterback Manny Wilkins to have to another offensive coordinator as a senior.
REACTION: Media, fans blast ASU over Billy Napier's departure to Louisiana-Lafayette
Herm Edwards statement released Friday
Edwards says he wishes Napier "nothing but the best" in his new job.
"I can assure all Sun Devil fans that I am working diligently on hiring a coaching staff that will fit what we are trying to accomplish at ASU, led by an incredible senior quarterback in Manny Wilkins," Edwards' statement read. "Assistant head coach and running backs coach John Simon and co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Rob Likens will be a part of my staff going forward."
With Napier leaving, ASU will have its fourth offensive coordinator in as many years following Mike Norvell, now head coach at Memphis; Chip Lindsey, offensive coordinator at Auburn; and Napier, who stayed for one season at ASU after previously being an assistant at Alabama and briefly offensive coordinator at Clemson.
ASU is bringing back offensive assistants Rob Likens (wide receivers), Rob Sale (offensive line) and John Simon (running backs). Likens could be a candidate to replace Napier. He was offensive coordinator at Kansas before coming to ASU and also was passing game coordinator/assistant head coach at California.
Sale, however, could be a candidate to join Napier at Louisiana-Lafayette, potentially as offensive coordinator.
ASU FOOTBALL: Herm Edwards' contract as ASU football coach gets final OK
Graham and Bennett are remaining at ASU through the Sun Bowl.
Edwards has been out of town recruiting and doing staff interviews in his first week as ASU head coach.
Before his promotion, Napier had a base salary of $550,000. According to his original contract, he was set to get a $50,000 raise next month, although those terms might have changed with his promotion.
Louisiana was 5-7 this season under Mark Hudspeth, who was fired Dec. 3. Hudspeth was 51-38 in seven seasons, although 22 of those wins were vacated due to use of ineligible players from 2011-14. The Ragin' Cajuns were 9-4 for three straight seasons (2012-14) but 4-8, 6-7 and 5-7 since.
Hudspeth last season made $1.15 million.
After Edwards was hired at ASU to replace Todd Graham, he retained Napier and offensive assistants Rob Likens, John Simon and Rob Sale.
BILLY NAPIER: How football helped Billy Napier cope with the death of his father
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