Update: ASU not considering coordinators

Another day, another wrinkle to the convoluted Arizona
State football coaching search.

On Thursday night, Arizona Sports’ Paul Calvisi took to
Twitter for his latest findings:

ASU Update: Source tells me tonight to “expect next ASU
head coach to have HC experience. No coordinators.”
That’s per Patterson directive.

Patterson is, of course, Steve Patterson, who was named
chief operating officer of Sun Devil Athletics and
managing director of the Sun Devil Sports Group this past
July. There has been plenty of debate about who exactly
is leading this search for ASU, and Calvisi’s source seems
to clear that up.

If “Patterson’s directive” is indeed followed, this would
eliminate some names that have surfaced in the last 36
hours as candidates for Arizona State.

The hot name on Thursday was Justin Wilcox, Tennessee’s
36-year-old defensive coordinator. He would be eliminated
because of his lack of head coaching experience. That
directive would also eliminate Wisconsin offensive
coordinator Paul Chryst and Oregon offensive coordinator
Mark Helfrich.

Patterson’s reported preference for experience would keep
former South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt, current Air
Force coach Troy Calhoun and Chicago Bears offensive
coordinator Mike Martz “eligible”, although there’s been
no overtures from ASU or reports that they’re in
consideration.

Follow @Vincemarotta