Billy Napier excited to work for new ASU head coach Herman Edwards

TEMPE, Ariz. – Remaining in one place for more than one season has always been the goal for Billy Napier ever since he first got into coaching.

So when the opportunity presented itself to stay at Arizona State following the hiring of new head coach Herman Edwards, Napier thought long and hard. He called it a “twist of emotions” because it was Todd Graham who had brought him to ASU after five seasons at Alabama.

In the end, however, family—he has a wife and three children—and the relationship he had built with the players won out; and on Tuesday, Napier, 36, was promoted to associate head coach, adding to his current titles of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“I got a tremendous amount of respect for Herm and what he’s accomplished, not only as a coach but as a player,” he said. “And the more people that I’ve spoken with about him, that coached with him, that played with him, you can tell that he’s a standup guy; he’s a man of character and integrity, and I think he’s going to be outstanding to work for.”

No one was more excited about Napier’s return than quarterback Manny Wilkins.

“Best news I’ve gotten in all four years that I’ve been here,” he said Friday. “I’ve built a really good relationship with him, I feel very comfortable with him and he’s made me a hell of a better football player. So, I’m looking forward to having the senior year go the right way—obviously, we got one more game left—but the senior year is it and it’s amazing to be able to do it with him.”

Under Napier, Wilkins passed for 2,918 yards and 17 touchdowns with five interceptions, three of which came on tipped balls. And should he throw for at least 82 yards in the Sun Bowl against North Carolina State on Dec. 29, he will become just the ninth Sun Devil in history to reach 3,000 passing yards in a single season.

In Napier’s first season, ASU posted the 14^th highest-graded offense in the Football Bowl Subdivision, according to Pro Football Focus, including the 10^th-highest-graded passing attack in the nation. Last season, the Sun Devils ranked 54^th and 86^th, respectively, in those categories.

Offensively, ASU also excelled in red zone touchdowns (11^th nationally) and taking care of the football, turning it over just 11 times (12^th nationally).

In addition to Napier, assistant head coach/running backs coach John Simon, wide receivers coach Rob Likens and offensive line coach Rob Sale were retained by Edwards.

“Continuity is a big deal,” Napier said. “It’s a big deal for our football players. You got the same voices. We continue to develop our players and that’s the most important thing.”

Added Wilkins, “This is the core. We’ll be light years ahead of where we were heading into the winter last year, we’ll be light years ahead of the summer last year. We have our foundation set and now it’s just about laying all the pieces in the right places. We know what we are, we know what we’re about, we know what our offense represents, we know what type of offense we are and it’s only going to get better from here.”

Napier and Edwards don’t have a prior working relationship. In fact, they had only met one other time before last week and that was when Edwards visited Alabama to speak to the team in 2013.

Napier, though, has done his homework and has only heard good things about his new boss.

“I think that’s probably the biggest compliment that anyone can have is when someone’s been in the trenches with you as a coach or a player and they compliment your integrity and your character and your approach,” he said. “So, I think we all know what type of leader we have and I’m excited about getting in there and going to work alongside him.”

EXTRA POINTS

— Among the many people in attendance at Edwards’ introductory press conference on Monday was Wilkins.

“It’s a respect thing,” he said. “I just wanted to give him a warm welcome and as a man, walk up to him…and look him in his eyes and shake his hand and let him know that I’m the leader of this football team and I’m his quarterback.”

— With one coordinator staying, the focus now turns to defensive coordinator Phil Bennett. He and Edwards have spoken on the phone. A face-to-face meeting is planned for Saturday after practice, according to Bennett.

“It’s got to be a fit for both of us,” Bennett said. “He’s got to make that decision. I’ve got to see where I fit in with him.”

— The Sun Devils held their fourth bowl practice on Friday. Graham, again, will coach in the Sun Bowl and not until after the game is played will he turn his attention to his coaching future.

“My deal is being focused for this 2017 team, going to get this bowl win so that’s been my No. 1 focus,” he said.

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