Posted by: Pete Roussel on February 21, 2012

When looking at Todd Graham's coaching staff at Arizona State, it seems as though Graham plucked a number of assistants that have extremely valuable experience in the last several years.

It's not the overall experience in number of years from these assistant coaches that catches my eye.  Rather, it's what each of these assistants has been around during the last 6-8 years that is really impressive. It's the quality of the experience.

In recent years, assistant coaches on this Arizona State staff have worked under Gus Malzahn, Chad Morris, Jim Harbaugh, Paul Chryst, Mike Riley, Vic Koenning, Mike Shula, Les Miles, Mike Price, and Bobby Petrino.

In addition, five coaches on the staff have held the title of assistant or associate head coach during their career. That list includes Bob Connelly, Paul Randolph, Larry Porter, Chris Ball, and Joe Lorig.  Of course, Porter also served as a head coach at the University of Memphis.

It should also be noted that all four defensive assistants have defensive coordinator experience.  Not many coaching staffs can make such a claim, which could be used as a selling point to recruits.

And then there's outside linebackers / defensive special teams coordinator Joe Lorig, who has degree in Law Enforcement and master's degree in Correctional Administration.  Now that's good stuff.

Only two assistants, Paul Randolph and Mike Norvell, followed Graham from Pitt to Arizona State.  Both coaches will serve as coordinators, which should certainly help the transition.  Co-defensive coordinator / inside linebackers coach Ron West did work under Graham at Tulsa in 2009.

Graham and the Sun Devil being Spring practice on March 13th.  The Spring game is set for April 21st.

Here's my video overview of Todd Graham's initial staff at Arizona State.

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