Devils in Detail
Fansided

ASU Football: Billy Napier named head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette

By Sam Ficarro

PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: The Arizona State Sun Devils gather together before their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: The Arizona State Sun Devils gather together before their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on September 30, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

After agreeing to a new contract Dec. 5, ASU football offensive coordinator Billy Napier is leaving Tempe to become the head coach at Louisiana-Lafayette.

ASU football head coach Herm Edwards was brought in with the hopes of holding on to both coordinators.

So much for that.

After Phil Bennett announced Wednesday he will not return to Arizona State next season, offensive coordinator Billy Napier was hired Friday as the new head coach of Louisiana-Lafayette.

2018 will be Arizona State’s fourth offensive coordinator in four years.

Napier, who signed on to a new contract earning a promotion to associate head coach Dec. 5, led the Sun Devils to a sixth-place ranking in the Pac-12 in total offense averaging 427.6 yards per game and seventh in scoring offense averaging 31.9 points per game.

More from Devils in Detail

Nationally, Arizona State ranked 40th in total offense and scoring offense.

In a statement, Edwards said, “I wish Bill nothing but the best in his coaching career. 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 Manny Wilkins.”

Edwards announced Friday that assistant head coach and running backs coach John Simon and co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Rob Likens will remain on the coaching staff.

This is a huge blow for Arizona State as Vice President of University Athletics Ray Anderson made it a huge priority to keep both coordinators and was one of the big factors in hiring Edwards.

Now as Edwards is out on the recruiting trail with the early signing period opening up next week, Edwards has to find new coordinators and basically a whole new coaching staff.

Napier joins a long list of Todd Graham assistant coaches to earn a promotion elsewhere joining the likes of Memphis head coach Mike Norvell, Nevada head coach Jay Norvell and Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsay.

“My family and I are excited and humbled for the opportunity to serve Cajun Nation and our Louisiana football program,” Napier said in a press release.

Next: ASU Football: Phil Bennett will not return as defensive coordinator

The preparation will roll on for Arizona State as they prepare for the Sun Bowl in two weeks against NC State with Bennett and Napier set to coach the game, but the start for Edwards has been a turbulent one.

Home/ASU Football