ASU Football: Phil Bennett will not return as defensive coordinator

After meeting with head coach Herm Edwards over the weekend, Phil Bennett will not return to ASU football as defensive coordinator.

Arizona State’s defense showed remarkable progress this season under first-year defensive coordinator Phil Bennett improving from one of the worst defenses in the nation.

After multiple reports Tuesday said that Bennett would not return next season, the one-year defensive coordinator confirmed that he will be leaving the program after the bowl game.

Arizona State will enter the 2018 season with their third defensive coordinator in three seasons after Bennett replaced Keith Patterson after last season.

In a statement head coach Herm Edwards said, “While I would have liked for Defensive Coordinator Phil Bennett to remain on the coaching staff, I do appreciate the fact that he has chosen not to stay based upon family reasons. Family always comes first and right now he needs to turn the attention to that. My top priorities right now going forward are to solidify our recruiting class and to assemble a defensive coaching staff. Both objectives are moving along quite well.”

From the statement, it’s safe to assume that there won’t be many holdovers on the defensive coaching staff and it’s been reported that Edwards will look to the NFL to fill the vacancy.

Arizona State finished the 2016 season tied for the fifth-worst scoring defense in FBS allowing 39.8 points per game and second worst total defense allowing 521.7 yards per game.

This season, the Sun Devils ranked tied for 88th in scoring defense allowing 31.3 points per game and 108th in total defense allowing  447.0 yards per game.

Some players on the defense have received postseason honors as defensive lineman JoJo Wicker and defensive back Chase Lucas were named to the All-Pac-12 second team defense with defensive back Chad Adams, linebacker D.J. Calhoun, linebacker Christian Sam and defensive lineman Tashon Smallwood earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.

Next: ASU Football: Phil Bennett is the coach that needs to stay

The core of the defense will be back for Arizona State, and the new defensive coordinator will have the challenge of keeping the continuity and continuing to move the defense in the right direction.