Arizona State Takes An NFL Approach In Hiring Herm Edwards

  • Arizona State named Herm Edwards as its new football coach, announcing that it is taking a new “NFL approach” to building a college football program and sharing its plans for a “general manager structure” within the Sun Devils program.
  • “The department’s New Leadership Model will be similar to an NFL approach using a general manager structure,” the school said in a statement. “It’s a collaborative approach to managing the ASU football program that includes sport and administrative divisions, which will operate as distinct, but collective units focused on elevating all aspects of Sun Devil Football. This structure will allow the department to form a multi-layered method to the talent evaluation and recruiting processes, increase its emphasis on both student-athlete and coach development and retention, and provide a boost in resource allocation and generation.”

Edwards will lead the charge as “a head coach who serves as a CEO,” according to athletic director Ray Anderson, Edwards’ former NFL agent. 

Herm Edwards to bring the energy to Arizona State as head coach | Golic and Wingo | ESPN

The Golic and Wingo crew breaks down what Herm Edwards will bring to the Arizona State Sun Devils program as the new head coach.

Edwards’ last coaching job was with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008. He has coached in college since serving as the defensive backs coach for San Jose State in 1989. 

“Passion for my faith, my family and my occupation as a football coach are the things that have driven me back to the grass,” Edwards said in the release. “My personal commitment to build young men to be whole people through the game of football is completely in alignment with the vision President Michael Crow and Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson have for this program. I stand ready for the challenge of working with them to elevate Sun Devil Football. I am very excited and humbled to be the Arizona State head football coach.”

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