ASU adds Rob Sale, Michael Slater to football coaching staff
Feb 15, 2017, 12:47 PM
The Arizona State Sun Devils filled out more of their coaching staff on Wednesday, as they announced the hirings of Rob Sale to be the offensive line coach and run game coordinator and Michael Slater as defensive line coach.
In other moves, Rob Likens has been promoted to co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach John Simon was promoted to assistant head coach.
Sale comes to Tempe after serving as the offensive line coach at Louisiana Monroe in 2016, where last season the Warhawks averaged 181.3 rushing yards per game and allowed just 19 sacks on the season. Prior to that, he coached the offensive line at Georgia, and has also spent time at McNeese State and with Alabama as a strength and conditioning coach as well as offensive analyst.
He is replacing Josh Henson, who last week left ASU to coach the offensive line at Oklahoma State.
As for Slater, he joins the Sun Devils after serving as the defensive line coach for Kansas in 2016. Last season, the Jayhawks posted the best pass defense in the Big 12, allowing 219.8 yards per game, while opponents converted just 35.6 percent of their third downs, which was also best in the conference.
“I’m very proud of the coaching staff that we have assembled at ASU and they will be under the leadership of two excellent coordinators in Billy Napier (OC) and Phil Bennett (DC),” ASU head coach Todd Graham said. “It speaks volumes about ASU on how we are perceived nationally by other programs in being able to attract top-flight coaching talent.”
Likens joined ASU’s staff in December as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator, whereas Simon just finished his first season on ASU’s staff.