Jon Gruden offers up a name for Arizona State

By Arizona Sports
Published: December 08, 2011 @ 8:53am
One prominent NFL analyst believes that former USF head coach Jim Leavitt would be a great fit in Tempe (AP Photo/Phil Coale)
One prominent NFL analyst believes that former USF head coach Jim Leavitt would be a great fit in Tempe (AP Photo/Phil Coale)
Former NFL head coach and current ESPN analyst Jon Gruden joined Doug and Wolf on Arizona Sports 620 on Wednesday, and he offered a suggestion to Arizona State in their continuing search for a new head coach.

Franz asked Gruden specifically about former South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt, now the linebackers coach on Jim Harbaugh's staff with the San Francisco 49ers.

"If you can find a better guy than Jim Leavitt, I hope Arizona State hires him," Gruden said. "He's passionate, intense. He's proven. The guy built South Florida from a trailer to #2 in the country three years ago.

"He's got a different pizzazz about him. You have to meet him, he's very charismatic. I think he's a tremendous recruiter. I think he'd be an unbelievable coup for Arizona State if they could get him."

Former NFL coach Jon Gruden
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Jon Gruden talked ASU's coaching search
As Gruden eluded to, Leavitt was the first head coach in South Florida's history, as they fielded a team for the first time in 1995. He guided the Bulls to a 94-57 record over his 13 seasons as coach, including a 67-40 mark as a Division I-A squad. USF went to five straight bowl games from 2005 to 2009, winning three of them.

Leavitt was fired early in 2010 after allegations that he physically assaulted one of his players in a locker room incident during a game against Louisville in November of 2009. There were further charges that Leavitt interfered with the investigation.

Despite Gruden's enthusiasm about Leavitt, one would have to believe that due to the tumultuous end to his tenure at South Florida, ASU brass would shy away from pursuing the coach. Wednesday, news broke that Arizona State soured on SMU's June Jones for the opening for a number of reasons, including "background issues".

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  • Now Lisa Now...
    6thCavAirCav (December 8, 2011 9:02 am)
    Listen up if this guy is our coach I willsitup and take notice. He has east and west coast ties and lok what he has done withthe 49ers animic defense. I like the offense that ASU already runs. Hey Booster let give to him...
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  • FANTASTIC HIRE
    tempetom (December 8, 2011 9:37 am)
    Jim Leavitt would be great for ASU. Prior coaching experience, great in the community, defense minded so Mazzone could stay, and experience coaching on both coasts and in the midwest. He did have an issue at USF, but the 49ers vetted him enough to bring him on to coach their LBs (no rushing TDs this year btw).
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  • I agree with both earlier comments
    CroDawg (December 8, 2011 9:52 am)
    Get somebody in there that aint afraid to light a fire under somebodies butt. He's probably too intense and too fiery for ASU's current front office. Which is probably why ASU had become a joke of a football program. One question I ask. Would Vontez have pulled any of his crap with Leavitt as coach? Negative, because if he did he would be out of football right now for good.
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  • Best thing that I've heard
    lockdown91 (December 8, 2011 10:06 am)
    We need a different kind of fire, besides the 1 that's burning in Tempe. I think this could be the 1 we need.
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  • I like this idea
    AzDraon (December 8, 2011 10:33 am)
    This would be a GREAT decision. I had immense respect for him while at USF, and was shocked when he was fired. The fact he is defensive minded and might keep Mazzone is a plus. We at ASU love Mazzone and hope he stays. We need a defensive minded Head Coach, and this would be a GREAT choice.
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  • Are you listening Lisa
    Robert C. (December 8, 2011 12:08 pm)
    This would be a great DEFENSIVE hire! I am not sure that Crow or Love have the ability to do this right.
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  • ABSOLUTELY - JIM LEAVITT
    GrayGrantham (December 8, 2011 5:24 pm)
    Lisa, Michael, Write the Check... Let Jim Leavitt Fill in the zeros
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  • YES
    mgmurillo (December 8, 2011 6:53 pm)
    I would definitely get excited about this hire!
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