TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Football Head Coach Herm Edwards announced that Chandler High School Head Coach Shaun Aguano will join the coaching staff as the Running Backs coach, on Friday morning.
Additionally, current Defensive Coordinator Danny Gonzales will be promoted to Assistant Head Coach while maintaining his coordinator duties.
Aguano comes to Arizona State with a tremendous resume, leaving Chandler High School as one of the most decorated coaches in Arizona High School football history. "I am so excited for the opportunity to be a Sun Devil," Aguano said. "This is a dream come true for me and my family. Having the chance to work for Coach Edwards and his incredible staff is exciting." During Aguano's tenure, the Wolves won four state championships, all of which have come in the past five seasons. Aguano won his third consecutive state championship this past season, leading his team to a record-setting 65-28 win over Perry High School in the 2018 6A title game. Chandler earned the school's first ever state championship when it defeated rival Hamilton in the 2014 Division I AIA State Championship, giving Aguano the first of four titles. Former Sun Devil standout wide receiver N'Keal Harry and current Sun Devil defensive back Chase Lucas played for Aguano during his first state championship run.
"Shaun brings a combination of coaching knowledge, connection with the community and the fact that he is a great man, father and husband to ASU," says Edwards. "Shaun understands the culture at ASU."
Chandler is recognized as one of the top high school programs nationally, reaching unprecedented success under Aguano. He compiled an 88-19 record during his eight-year coaching stint, posting an impressive 63-8 mark over his final five seasons. Chandler has finished the season in the MaxPreps National Top-25 three of the past four seasons, finding themselves ranked as high as 12th in the country (2015 & 2016). The Wolves have occupied the top spot in the final Arizona High School rankings in each of their last three campaigns. Additionally, they earned victories over Valdosta (Ga.) and Miami Northwestern (Fla.) in the Geico Bowl Series, an event that pits state champions against each other at the end of the season.
"Shaun is someone I have admired for a long time," second-year Sun Devil offensive coordinator Rob Likens stated. "His Chandler teams were always extremely prepared and executed at a championship level."
Running backs have thrived under Aguano's guidance and in his offensive system. A Chandler running back has ran for more than 2,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Two of his former running backs, T.J. Green (Utah) and Drake Anderson (Northwestern), are currently on Power Five rosters in addition to another prospect that has signed in the Class of 2019.
"Herm and I wanted to have someone in place that was not only a great technical coach, but someone that would contribute immensely to the family culture we have worked very hard to create here at ASU," Likens added.
Aguano recently served as an offensive coordinator in the 2019 Under Armour All-American game and has coached at both the Army All-American Game and Semper Fidelis Bowl previously.
"I have a long history with Shaun, going back to coaching in the annual Under Armour game" Edwards added. "I have a high regard for him. I'm excited to be able to add him to our staff."
In 2013, Aguano helped Chandler snap a 17-game losing streak to arch-rival Hamilton High School. Before departing, he led the Wolves to six consecutive victories over the Huskies. Aguano took over as head coach of Chandler High School after serving as the offensive coordinator. He spent ten years as an assistant at Chandler High School after graduating from Linfield College in Oregon, where he was a running back and four-year letter winner.
"Great things are happening at ASU," Aguano remarked. "I share Coach Edwards' vision and what he stands for. I am excited to get going."
Coach Shaun Aguano will be joined in Tempe by his wife, Kristin, and their four children, Nainoa, Taylor, Bryn, and Kalia.
After making an immediate impact on the defense, second-year defensive coordinator Gonzales has been promoted to Assistant Head Coach by Edwards. Gonzales will continue his duties as defensive coordinator, a role he excelled in during the 2018 season. The Sun Devil defense allowed the fewest points (332) since the 2012 season. ASU held nine of its opponents under 30 points, including in seven consecutive games to start the season. ASU was one of seven teams to accomplish this, a feat that has only been done five times at the school in the Pac-10/12 era.
Despite featuring one of the nation's youngest defenses, Gonzales managed to significantly improve that side of the ball. Sun Devil freshmen (true or redshirt) combined for 3,300+ snaps on defense this season. Comparatively, freshmen combined for just 918 total defensive snaps played in 2017 and 1,035 in 2016. Only three Pac-12 true freshmen played at least 650 defensive snaps in the regular season and all of them play for Arizona State (Merlin Robertson/749, Aashari Crosswell/722, Darien Butler/690).
During the regular season, ASU held opponents to just 3.5 points per fourth quarter, the fifth lowest total in FBS. For comparison, the defense ranked 112th, 124th, and 121st in the same category over the past three seasons. Additionally, ASU allowed just 4.9 points per first quarter in the regular season, moving its national rank from 82nd in 2017 to 36thnationally this season. The Sun Devils allowed 25.1 points per game in the regular season, good for 49th nationally. A year ago, ASU was 103rd nationally at 32.8 points per game and had finished 99th or worse in three consecutive seasons prior to Gonzales' arrival.
The defense finished the regular season tied for 20th nationally in fewest passing plays over 40 yards allowed, giving up just five. ASU ranked 90th in the category a year ago, allowing 12 such plays and 127th in 2016, allowing 22 passing plays over 40 yards allowed. Additionally, the Sun Devils finished 60th in the regular season allowing 5.63 yards per play this year, moving up over 50 spots from the team's 111th place finish in the category last year (6.33 yards per play). ASU had finished 109th or worse in the category in three consecutive seasons prior to the current campaign.
The defense was a big part of the 2-0 start to the season, as it dominated UTSA in the season opener and stymied No. 15 Michigan State to help the Sun Devils earn the 16-13 upset victory. ASU recorded nine sacks against UTSA, the most since 2013, and 15 tackles for a loss, the most since 2010.
Under Gonzales' tutelage, freshman linebacker Robertson was named the Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year after becoming the first Sun Devil freshman to lead the team in tackles since Jason Shivers in 2001. Robertson was the heart and soul of the defensive unit, resulting in him earning Freshman All-American honors from three national publications (FWAA, 247 Sports, The Athletic). Freshman defensive back Aashari Crosswell thrived in Gonzales' system, earning All-Pac 12 honorable mention recognition after an outstanding freshman campaign. In his first season in Tempe, Croswell led the team with four interceptions. Senior defensive lineman Renell Wren wreaked havoc in opposing backfields all season as part of Gonzales' attacking scheme, as he joined Croswell on the All-Pac 12 honorable mention list. Defensive back Chase Lucas, linebacker Darien Butler, defensive back Kobe Williams, linebacker Tyler Johnson, and defensive lineman Jermayne Lole are just some of several key returners with a year of experience in the 3-3-5 scheme.
The 2018 Broyles Award Nominee joined the Sun Devil coaching staff as the defensive coordinator last season after serving as the defensive coordinator at San Diego State.