Report: Arizona State to add Stanford assistant T.J. Rushing as secondary coach
Jan 14, 2016, 9:17 PM
Arizona State coach Todd Graham is reportedly set to hire a familiar face to replace departed assistant Chris Ball. According to Sports Illustrated’s Thayer Evans, ASU will add Stanford defensive assistant T.J. Rushing to coach its secondary.
Rushing graduated from Stanford in 2006 but coached under Graham’s staff as a graduate assistant from 2012-13. He then became Northern Arizona’s cornerbacks coach for the 2014 season before returning as a defensive assistant at Stanford last year.
The Cardinal graduate spent five years playing as a cornerback and return specialist for the Colts and won Super Bowl XLI with Indianapolis.
It is unclear if Rushing’s duties will extend beyond coaching Arizona State’s secondary. He replaces Ball, who not only coached the Sun Devil safeties but was a co-defensive coordinator.
Ball was hired as Memphis’ defensive coordinator, joining departed ASU offensive coordinator Mike Norvell’s new staff.