ASU Football Odds: Speculating on the Next Coach in Tempe after Herm Edwards
The Arizona State Sun Devils caused a stir in the college football betting world on Sunday when they announced the departure of fifth-year head coach Herm Edwards. The decision came after a tough home loss to Eastern Michigan the previous night.
While in Tempe, Edwards had a mix of triumphs and challenges, achieving a 56.5% winning record in 46 games and guiding the Sun Devils to four bowl games.
He oversaw a program that was implicated in a number of major NCAA violations stemming from the recruitment methods of assistant coaches during the COVID-19 dead period.
As a result, Edwards is now among the ranks of his former assistants who have been fired, putting AD Ray Anderson in charge of finding the school’s fourth head coach since Dennis Erickson’s departure in 2011.
Arizona State will face off against No. 13 Utah at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the game airing on ESPN. Sports betting odds in Arizona have the Sun Devils as a 15.5-point underdog.
Yengols.com conducted a nationwide survey to identify the primary individual whom Anderson and President Michael Crow should contact first in their quest to find a replacement for Edwards.
Potential Replacements for Herm Edwards
The reasons why Norvell is considered the top candidate.
Norvell has encountered difficulties in Tallahassee, posting a record of 11-13 in over two seasons at Florida State. Prior to this, he had a successful tenure at Memphis, where he maintained a winning percentage of .704 over four seasons.
Even with their impressive 3-0 start, the Seminoles are still seen as unlikely to win the ACC according to Arizona sports betting apps. They are currently tied for sixth place with odds of +2000.
Norvell has extensive ties to Arizona State, where he served as the offensive coordinator, quarterback coach, and assistant head coach under former coach Todd Graham from 2012 to 2015.
With his upbringing in Dallas, he possesses a deep knowledge of the crucial areas that the Sun Devils must target for enhancing their recruiting efforts. He has previous experience as an assistant coach at Tulsa, Tempe, and had a brief stint at Pittsburgh in 2011.
Norvell is anticipated to receive a salary of $3.75 million in 2022, which is just under Edwards’ $3.8 million salary at ASU. This suggests that the program likely has the financial resources to bring him on board.
Additionally, it is important to take into account how much longer Norvell is prepared to continue working in the shadow of FSU icons Bobby Bowden and former coach Jimbo Fisher, who set the bar high in a location where meeting those expectations is frequently challenging.
Norvell must ultimately determine if he is ready for a change in environment. However, it may be difficult to resist the temptation of going back to a former home, especially in a league full of possibilities that is set to become even more open with USC leaving.
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Other candidates worth keeping an eye on in the ASU carousel.
Additional strong contenders to succeed Edwards include sought-after head coaches hailing from schools with limited financial resources or lofty standards, including Jamey Chadwell of Coastal Carolina, Kalani Sitake of BYU, and Lance Leipold of Kansas.
Sitake and Leipold are both coaching or will soon coach in the Big 12, but the sustainability of their current success is still uncertain.
Sitake has excelled in Provo, boasting an impressive 50-30 record in over six seasons at BYU.
His best-case scenario could be finishing the season with an 8-4 record and earning a spot in the Armed Forces Bowl at BYU, although this could be altered as the program transitions to the restructured Big 12 in 2023.
Chadwell has turned Coastal Carolina from a previous FCS program into a powerhouse mid-major team, boasting a 33-19 record and consecutive 11-win seasons with the Chanticleers.
Chadwell, a lively coach known for his mullet and love of fun, has been a popular topic of conversation for many Power Five coaching vacancies. ASU may offer an appealing destination for him.
Leipold has emerged as the standout player in college football this year, turning around a struggling Kansas team and leading them to a perfect 3-0 record with a powerful offensive game. They seem poised to secure their first winning season in 14 years.
With a track record of success at Buffalo and Wisconsin-Whitewater, the coach has shown a knack for winning in the tough Lawrence environment. Could he be enticed to chase bigger opportunities in Tempe?
Leipold has a salary of $2.8 million for 2022, along with a buyout clause of $5 million.
The message board users may be wishing for Anderson and Crow to go after a big-name candidate like Urban Meyer, but it seems they are leaning towards a more unconventional choice.
At present, former Chandler High School coach Shaun Aguano has been given the sole responsibility of serving as the interim coach until the conclusion of the 2022 football season.
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Author
Peterson Christopher has dedicated over seven years to covering sports and sports betting in Arizona, gaining experience at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News. He now holds the position of lead writer at yengols.com.
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