Arizona State hires Mike Cavanaugh as team’s offensive line coach
Jan 28, 2021, 10:25 AM
Syracuse Orange Offensive Lineman Coach Mike Cavanaugh greets players after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of the Connecticut Huskies versus the Syracuse Orange game on September 22, 2018 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Arizona State Sun Devils have found their next offensive line coach.
Days after presumed OL coach Klayton Adams backed out of the job, ASU officially hired Mike Cavanaugh for the position, the team announced Thursday.
The OL coach takes over for Dave Christensen, who retired at the end of 2020.
Cavanaugh joins the program after spending the last three seasons as Syracuse’s OL coach. His 32-year college coaching career includes stops at Nebraska (2015-17), Oregon State (2005-14) and Hawaii (1999-04) in the same role.
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The OL coach saw six bowl games during his tenure with the Beavers. The OSU offensive line helped former quarterback Sean Mannion set a single-season Pac-12 record for passing yards in 2013 with 4,662. Running backs Yvenson Bernard and Jacquizz Rodgers each produced three 1,000-yard seasons with Cavanaugh on staff.
Cavanaugh also has two years of NFL experience, working with the then-San Diego Chargers as an assistant offensive line and quality control coach from 1997-98.
Adams originally agreed to be ASU’s next offensive line coach and run game coordinator on Jan. 18.
It marked the second time Adams flipped on a coaching decision in the past two years. In 2019, Adams was going to join Wyoming in the same role before opting to join the Colts organization.
