Search the Community

This is a big week for Arizona State. Not only for health and fundamental purposes, but also for recruiting. With the Sun Devils off this weekend, their coaches are set to hit the recruiting trail. Coach Todd Graham even will travel the Valley skies by helicopter. "Being able to get out and go see games will be good," offensive coordinator Mike Norvell said. Aside from running ASU's offense, this is where Norvell makes his mark. By some measures, he is ASU's top recruiter. Asked why this is, Graham before the season brought up Norvell's passion and work ethic, which he said often has the two talking recruiting on the phone as the clock nears midnight. Concluded Graham: "He's like a dad-gum Chihuahua, just chomping on your dang heels, man." To date, Norvell has had a hand in lassoing six of ASU's 12 2016 commitments, a group that includes four-star quarterback Dillon Sterling-Cole of Westfield High in Houston; three-star running back Tre Turner of Holy Cross High in New Orleans and three-star receiver Kyle Williams of Vista Murrieta High in California. read more: http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/ncaaf/asu/2015/10/22/what-makes-mike-norvell-asus-top-recruiter/74400330/

Athlon Sports article on the top ten coordinators on the rise. Several names with Texas ties, which I think is a must for this next hire. 2. Doug Meacham, Co-Offensive Coordinator, TCU Meacham’s arrival in 2014 was a big reason why TCU emerged as a playoff contender last season and is in the mix once again in 2015. The Horned Frogs averaged only 25.1 points a game in 2013 but jumped to 46.5 last season and 51 per contest in 2015. Prior to joining Gary Patterson’s staff at TCU, Meacham called the plays at Houston in 2013 and worked as an assistant for Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State from 2005-12. 3. Mike Norvell, Offensive Coordinator, Arizona State Norvell has experienced a fast rise through the assistant ranks. After working for one season as a graduate assistant at Central Arkansas in 2006, Norvell was hired by Todd Graham at Tulsa in 2007 and worked with the Golden Hurricane until 2010. The Texas native followed Graham to Pittsburgh in 2011 and to Arizona State in 2012. Norvell has called the plays since coming to Tempe, and the Sun Devils never finished lower than third in scoring offense within the Pac-12 from 2012-14. 4. Lincoln Riley, Offensive Coordinator, Oklahoma Riley is a Mike Leach and Air Raid disciple, and despite the sluggish showing against Texas in Week 6, the first-year coordinator is off to a fast start at Oklahoma. The Sooners are averaging 37 points per game and 6.4 yards per play in 2015. The Texas native worked at Texas Tech under Leach from 2007-09 and was hired by Ruffin McNeill at East Carolina prior to the 2010 season. The Pirates had a prolific offense under Riley, including a No. 2 rank in the American Athletic Conference in 2014 by averaging 35.8 points per game. Riley is just 32 years old and is stock will only increase over the next few seasons. 5. Kendal Briles, Offensive Coordinator, Baylor After Philip Montgomery left Baylor to be the head coach at Tulsa, Briles was handed the keys to a high-powered Ferrari. While his father – Art Briles – is instrumental in the Bears’ offense, this unit is thriving under Kendal’s direction. Through five games, Baylor is averaging 64.2 points a game and ranks first nationally by averaging 9.1 yards per play. The Texas native has worked as an assistant with the Bears since 2008 and is regarded as one of the Big 12’s top recruiters. - See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-footballs-top-10-coordinators-rise-2015#sthash.ZuAVjvbq.dpuf