ASU Football: Hill resigns due to NCAA investigation, Fletcher, interims hired

(Photo: Susan Wong/WCSN)

On Friday, Arizona State Football head coach Herm Edwards announced that offensive coordinator Zak Hill has resigned after two seasons with the program. 

Earlier in the week, tight ends coach Adam Breneman resigned while wide receiver coach Prentice Gill and defensive backs coach Chris Hawkins were fired, according to multiple reports.

The changes come in light of the NCAA investigation regarding recruiting violations that the program has faced since last summer. The four engaged in prohibited meetings with recruits along with Edwards and associate head coach Antonio Pierce, according to Sun Devil Source.

ASU also announced the full-time promotions of Juston Wood and Bobby Wade to take over duties as tight ends coach and wide receivers coach respectively. The program also added former NFL head coach and Super Bowl champion Brian Billick to be an offensive analyst – an announcement that was made on Monday – and named Aaron Fletcher as its defensive backs coach on Jan. 19.

Fletcher replaces interim defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson, who is remaining on staff as a consultant. Fletcher had previously coached at Missouri and Tulsa, and at multiple high schools in Texas.  He played in the National Indoor Football League in 2001 and the Arena Football League in 2004.

“I cannot thank Coach Edwards and Ray Anderson enough for allowing my family and I an opportunity to be a part of the prestigious Sun Devil Football program in the great community of Tempe,” Fletcher told thesundevils.com.

Hill was hired to replace former offensive coordinator Rob Likens in 2019.  The former Boise State play-caller brought a complex scheme to ASU, one that utilized unique formations and checks. The Sun Devils’ four games played in 2020 seemingly hurt the installation of the offense, although it did breathe life into a potent backfield compromised of former running backs DeaMonte Trayanum and Rachaad White.  

In 2021, despite White’s impressive performance, the Sun Devils’ offense struggled, with junior quarterback Jayden Daniels throwing 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, a lack of viable receiving play and Trayanum being regelated to a backup role all contributing. Trayanum ended up transferring to Ohio State at the conclusion of the regular season.

All indications were that Hill would remain with the Sun Devils in 2022, while Gill, Hawkins and Breneman’s departures were seemingly unsurprising. Hill talked positively after ASU’s 20-13 Las Vegas Bowl loss to Wisconsin about what needed to improve with Daniels and ASU’s offense moving forward.

“I’m excited to see what [Daniels] is going to do in the offseason and next year,” Hill said.

According to Devils Digest, the Sun Devils search for a new offensive coordinator hopes to conclude in a couple of weeks.

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