Report: Arizona State defensive coordinator resigning amid NCAA investigation
The exodus of Arizona State coaches amid damning allegations regarding their football program is continuing. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel revealed defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce is resigning from his position.
“Sources: Arizona State defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce is expected to resign from his position,” revealed Thamel. “He plans to seek NFL opportunities. He’s the fifth ASU coach implicated in the NCAA dead period allegations to leave the ASU staff.”
Moreover, the news comes days after head coach Herm Edwards was implicated amid recruiting violations.
To illustrate, Edwards was said to be in “impermissible local meetings” with recruits along with three assistants and Pierce, Sun Devil Source reported. Between March 2020 and May 2021, programs couldn’t meet with recruits in-person due to COVID-19.
Arizona State coaches allegedly paid for recruits’ travel to Tempe and covered their lodging in addition to meeting with them. Those are the most serious allegations of the investigation.
The NCAA is also looking into alleged recruiting travel outside of Arizona by members of the coaching staff. At that time, the NCAA wasn’t allowing that.
Additionally, former assistant coordinator for football operations Eric Bowman allegedly accepted money from football coaches in exchange for Arizona State athletics apparel. He then gave that apparel to recruits without cost.
Sun Devil Source also reported Arizona State officials have spoken privately about their concerns regarding the investigation. The Sun Devils could face Level I violations in a Notice of Allegations by the NCAA, per the report.
Evidently, Antonio Pierce is getting out while he can. Times are changing at Arizona State, and it’ll be interesting to watch what becomes of the remainder of the Sun Devils staff.
Reports: Multiple Arizona State assistants, including OC, leave program amid NCAA investigation
Continuing, Arizona State offensive coordinator Zak Hill is among the coaches to leave the program after an NCAA review, according to multiple reports. DevilsDigest of Rivals first reported the news earlier this week.
Hill resigned after an NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations. The results of the investigation led to Hill’s resignation, according to Devils Digest.
Three other assistants — wide receivers coach Prentice Gill, secondary coach Chris Hawkins and tight ends coach Adam Breneman — are also reportedly no longer with the program. They were previously placed on administrative leave in August.
Hill joined Arizona State in 2020 after four years with Boise State. While with the Broncos, he worked with Bryan Harsin, who’s now the head coach at Auburn. In fact, Harsin wanted to hire Hill to become the Tigers’ new offensive coordinator. He ended up hiring Austin Davis for the role.
Arizona State went 8-5 overall and 6-3 in Pac-12 play this season. The Sun Devils appeared in the Las Vegas Bowl, where they fell to Wisconsin 20-13 on Dec. 30.
On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.