Report: Herm Edwards a serious candidate for ASU coaching job

Former NFL head coach and current TV analyst Herm Edwards has become a serious candidate to replace Todd Graham as Arizona State’s head coach, multiple sources told 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Paul Calvisi.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed he will be interviewing for the job this weekend.

The 63-year-old Edwards, whose only college coaching experience came as the San Jose State defensive backs coach from 1987-89, most recently coached the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006-08. Before that, he was the New York Jets’ head coach from 2001-05.

Because of ASU athletic director Ray Anderson’s experience as an NFL executive, it’s believed he would heavily consider coaches with NFL ties.

That said, he mentioned after Graham’s firing that he would only consider candidates with head coaching experience.

Anderson also said he hoped an incoming coach would consider retaining defensive coordinator Phil Bennett and offensive coordinator Billy Napier, something that Edwards would be willing to do, reports Calvisi.

Edwards and fellow former NFL coach Tony Dungy were rumored to be helping Anderson make his hire rather than ASU using a search firm, 98.7 FM’s Mike Jurecki reported last week.

Edwards went 54-74 in his eight NFL seasons and took the Jets to three playoff appearances. Under Edwards, Kansas City went 9-7 and lost in the AFC Wild Card game in 2006 but faltered to 4-12 and 2-14 in his final two years.

A former NFL defensive back from 1977-86, Edwards played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams.

Edwards joins a shortlist of potential Sun Devil coaching hires that, according to reports, includes fired Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason and Michigan passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton.

Follow @AZSports