TEMPE, Ariz. – Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Antonio Pierce has been named the sole defensive coordinator, Sun Devil Football Head Coach Herm Edwards announced.
The Super Bowl-winning linebacker with a decade of playing experience in the NFL served as the co-defensive coordinator along with Marvin Lewis last season. With Lewis taking a role as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach, Antonio Pierce assumes full responsibility for the defensive unit.
Pierce adds the title of defensive coordinator and will retain the position of Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. With Pierce's additional commitments and requirements in his new role, Sun Devil Football has started a national search for a linebackers' coach. Pierce had served as the linebackers' coach since being hired back in December of 2017, quickly building one of the deepest and most talented units in the entire country.
A former Pro Bowl linebacker in the NFL, Antonio Pierce has played a pivotal role in the improvement on defense in the last three seasons while helping the Sun Devils reach new heights in the recruiting world. The direction of the defense and the ability to attract some of the top talent in the country under Pierce excites Herm Edwards.
"I've said it before and it is worth saying again that Antonio Pierce has proven his worth as a person, as a football coach and as a leader of young men while on our staff at ASU," Coach Edwards remarked. "His pedigree and wealth of experience fits perfectly within our Pro Model and with how we do things in our program. I'm so proud of him and I think he is set up to be a Sun Devil for a long while."
Lewis and Pierce teamed up to coach an aggressive and opportunistic Sun Devil defense with a heavy NFL influence. Both individuals brought extensive professional backgrounds to the table, allowing them to be on the same page from the start, making it an effective partnership. In Pierce's first year calling a defense at the collegiate level, who better to learn from then the architect of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense. Lewis' defense set the NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game campaign (165) that season on their way to a Super Bowl Championship. The tutelage of Lewis has put Pierce in a great situation, helping him prepare for this next step.
"I am looking forward to this new challenge and opportunity to be the Defensive Coordinator at Arizona State," Antonio Pierce said. "I have learned so much from Coach Lewis and Coach Edwards during my time here and can't wait to apply that knowledge in this new role. We are excited about the group that we have returning and can't wait to continue to bring in talented Sun Devils."
In his first season as the co-defensive coordinator after having served as the linebackers' coach his first two season, Pierce's defense had flashes of dominance during an unprecedented campaign. Arizona State forced 13 turnovers in only four games, highlighted by a seven-turnover performance in the Territorial Cup victory. In that game, the Sun Devils held Arizona to just seven points, its' lowest total in the series since 2003. Pierce has now been a part of three straight victories over the rival Wildcats.
Despite playing in only four games, Pierce's defense stacked up statistically with the other top defenses in the conference. Arizona State was the top team nationally in turnover margin, forcing 13 total turnovers compared to just five for the opponent. The Sun Devils finished first in the conference in Scoring Defense (23.2), fumble recoveries (8), and yards per completion allowed. Defensive back Evan Fields four forced fumbles led the conference and was tied for first in the country.
Local products defensive back Chase Lucas and defensive lineman Tyler Johnson each earned Second Team Pac-12 All-Conference honors, thriving in Pierce's scheme. Additionally, five more Sun Devils earned honorable mention nods for the All-Conference team, including defensive lineman Jermayne Lole, linebacker Kyle Soelle, and defensive back Evan Fields. This entire decorated group returns for another season at Arizona State in 2021.
As the Sun Devils' recruiting coordinator, Pierce is one of the most highly-respected figures on the recruiting trail, consistently ranking as one of the top recruiters in the conference. The 2021 signing class is still in progress, but Arizona State has officially signed four four-star prospects and several highly-rated three-star recruits. Pierce and company went to Florida to earn the signature of Tommi Hill, the No. 13 athlete in the country. The staff managed to sign the nation's No. 1 center prospect in the competitive state of Texas, Ezra Dotson-Oyetade. Linebackers Jaydon Williams and Eric Gentry, cornerback Robert Regan, and defensive end Gharin Stansbury are on their way to Tempe to play for Coach Pierce.
The 2020 recruiting class was the best ever in the Edwards/Pierce era, ranking 23rd nationally and fourth in the Pac-12 in 247Sports' Composite Rankings. It was the highest-ranked recruiting class for the program according to the publication since 2015. Several players from that class made an instant impact, including four-star prospects Johnny Wilson, Chip Trayanum, LV Bunkley-Shelton, Daniyel Ngata, and Jordan Banks.
Pierce helped put together the nation's No. 28 signing class for 2019, according to 247Sports' Composite Rankings – the fifth highest-graded class in the Pac-12. The Sun Devils managed to land Jayden Daniels, the No. 35 overall prospect in the country and No. 1 dual-threat quarterback prospect according to 247Sports. Daniels was one of five four-star prospects in the class, with Pierce landing Stephon Wright, Kejuan Markham, and Jack Jones for the defensive side of the ball.
Despite being just weeks on the job in the year prior, Pierce helped rally the 2018 Signing Class to 36th nationally and kept the Sun Devils in the top-half of the Pac-12 recruiting rankings. Merlin Robertson, Jermayne Lole, Darien Butler, and Michael Matus were a few of the standout defensive prospects from that class.
High school prospects are not the only talent pool Pierce will pull from, as he has been at the forefront of prioritizing the transfer portal market. The Sun Devils have been aggressive in pursuing players at other programs that can immediately help at ASU. Casey Tucker, Roe Wilkins, Kellen Diesch, Henry Hattis, and DeAndre Pierce became starters after coming to Tempe from the transfer portal. In the upcoming 2021 season, LSU transfer Travez Moore will compete for reps at defensive end.
The 2019 Sun Devil defense with Pierce as the linebackers' coach finished the regular season 39th in scoring defense, allowing just 23.1 points per game – notables as the Sun Devils had finished 99th or worse in three consecutive seasons prior to White's arrival in Tempe. ASU has held opponents to 30 points or less in 16 of 25 games in the previous two seasons after opponents scored at least 30 in 32 of 43 games previously.
In 2019 the Sun Devils have given up just two plays over 50 yards, tied for the fifth-fewest nationally. ASU was also tied for 9th nationally in allowing just 3 plays of over 50 yards last year after sitting in the bottom 10 nationally in the previous four years. ASU's eight plays allowed over 40 yards this season are 14th nationally. In 2018, ASU was tied for 11th nationally in allowing just 8 plays over 40 yards, an area the Devils had struggled in in previous seasons (allowing 20, 16, 30, 21 in the previous four seasons and finishing 103rd, 79th, 128th, 110th, respectively).
Pierce's linebackers were key in the Sun Devils staunch run defense in 2019. ASU ranked 21st nationally in allowing just 116.8 rushing yards per game – the best ranking at the end of the regular season for ASU since the 2009 Sun Devils were 19th (108.58 rushing yards per game). ASU has allowed 155 or fewer rushing yards in 11 of 12 games this season, the first time in program history to accomplish the feat since regular seasons expanded to 12 games in the late 1990s.
Under Pierce's guidance, Darien Butler was named the first true sophomore team captain in program history for the 2019 campaign. Butler would go on to be the seventh-highest graded linebacker in the Pac-12 on run defense, according to Pro Football Focus, while his 18 total quarterback pressures were tied for eighth among the league's linebacker.
Butler finished with 79 tackles on the season, leading the team in the category and adding five tackles for loss, leading the team with three forced fumbles and a sack and a fumble recovery.
Khaylan Kearse-Thomas enjoyed a breakout senior campaign in 2019 under Pierce and was named the team's most Outstanding Linebacker as a result. Kearse-Thomas led the team in tackles for loss with 11 – the most among non-edge rushing linebackers in the Pac-12 – and finished with 57 total tackles.
The senior was a part of five sacks this season, tied for first among Pac-12 linebackers. Among all linebackers and edge defenders in the Pac-12, he has recorded the 16th-best positive run impact percentage at 13.6%. Pierce's linebacker unit had a big impact in ASU's defensive success in 2018. Starting true freshmen linebackers Merlin Robertson (77 tackles/first) and Darien Butler (70 tackles/tied for second) were the team's top two leaders in tackles.
Robertson also led the team in tackles for loss (8.5), and sacks (5.0) and intercepted one pass on his way to earning 2018 Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. He became the first freshman to lead the team in tackles since Jason Shivers in 2001 and the first freshman to lead the team in tackles for loss and sacks since Junior Onyeali in 2010.
During his nine-year NFL career, Pierce played 137 regular season games (and seven playoff games) with the Washington Redskins (2001-04) and New York Giants (2005-09). Pierce captained the Giants' defense for five seasons, including 2007 when he helped anchor the championship team that upset the previously undefeated New England Patriots for a victory in Super Bowl XLII. He was also named to the Pro Bowl that season.
Signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2001, Pierce finished his career with 687 tackles, nine sacks and seven interceptions.
A native of Long Beach, Calif., Pierce played college football at the University of Arizona. As a senior, he had three sacks, 77 tackles (10 for losses), two forced fumbles, one interception, and one blocked kick for the Wildcats. Prior to Arizona, Pierce attended Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.
Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Pierce was the spokesperson for the Giants Academy inner city youth program in 2006, and he works with a number of not-for-profit organizations, including YMCA, DARE, Cystic Fibrosis, My Sisters Place, ASC Football Camp, City Meals on Wheels and Make a Wish Foundation. Pierce received the United Way's Man of the Year award in 2007 and was honored by Minority Athletes Networking Inc (M.A.N) as its 2008 'MAN of the Year,' for his excellence in the community. In 2011, Pierce was named to the California Community College Athletics Association's Hall of Fame.
In 2005, Pierce hosted his first annual free football camp for youth in his hometown of Compton, Calif., where it continued for seven years.
In 2006, Pierce started 'Antonio's A-List' at Giants Academy, the Giants charter academic program located in the Louise A. Spencer School in Newark, N.J. 'Antonio's A-List' is a motivational incentive program that rewarded Giants Academy Students that reached certain academic standards each semester and for the entire school year. Pierce visited the school, and accompanied the kids on service trips and preparing meals for the community.
During Pierce's NFL career he played for Marty Schottenheimer, Marvin Lewis, Steve Spurrier, George Edwards, Greg Williams, Joe Gibbs, Steve Spagnuolo and Tom Coughlin.
The Super Bowl-winning linebacker with a decade of playing experience in the NFL served as the co-defensive coordinator along with Marvin Lewis last season. With Lewis taking a role as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach, Antonio Pierce assumes full responsibility for the defensive unit.
Pierce adds the title of defensive coordinator and will retain the position of Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. With Pierce's additional commitments and requirements in his new role, Sun Devil Football has started a national search for a linebackers' coach. Pierce had served as the linebackers' coach since being hired back in December of 2017, quickly building one of the deepest and most talented units in the entire country.
A former Pro Bowl linebacker in the NFL, Antonio Pierce has played a pivotal role in the improvement on defense in the last three seasons while helping the Sun Devils reach new heights in the recruiting world. The direction of the defense and the ability to attract some of the top talent in the country under Pierce excites Herm Edwards.
"I've said it before and it is worth saying again that Antonio Pierce has proven his worth as a person, as a football coach and as a leader of young men while on our staff at ASU," Coach Edwards remarked. "His pedigree and wealth of experience fits perfectly within our Pro Model and with how we do things in our program. I'm so proud of him and I think he is set up to be a Sun Devil for a long while."
Lewis and Pierce teamed up to coach an aggressive and opportunistic Sun Devil defense with a heavy NFL influence. Both individuals brought extensive professional backgrounds to the table, allowing them to be on the same page from the start, making it an effective partnership. In Pierce's first year calling a defense at the collegiate level, who better to learn from then the architect of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense. Lewis' defense set the NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game campaign (165) that season on their way to a Super Bowl Championship. The tutelage of Lewis has put Pierce in a great situation, helping him prepare for this next step.
"I am looking forward to this new challenge and opportunity to be the Defensive Coordinator at Arizona State," Antonio Pierce said. "I have learned so much from Coach Lewis and Coach Edwards during my time here and can't wait to apply that knowledge in this new role. We are excited about the group that we have returning and can't wait to continue to bring in talented Sun Devils."
In his first season as the co-defensive coordinator after having served as the linebackers' coach his first two season, Pierce's defense had flashes of dominance during an unprecedented campaign. Arizona State forced 13 turnovers in only four games, highlighted by a seven-turnover performance in the Territorial Cup victory. In that game, the Sun Devils held Arizona to just seven points, its' lowest total in the series since 2003. Pierce has now been a part of three straight victories over the rival Wildcats.
Despite playing in only four games, Pierce's defense stacked up statistically with the other top defenses in the conference. Arizona State was the top team nationally in turnover margin, forcing 13 total turnovers compared to just five for the opponent. The Sun Devils finished first in the conference in Scoring Defense (23.2), fumble recoveries (8), and yards per completion allowed. Defensive back Evan Fields four forced fumbles led the conference and was tied for first in the country.
Local products defensive back Chase Lucas and defensive lineman Tyler Johnson each earned Second Team Pac-12 All-Conference honors, thriving in Pierce's scheme. Additionally, five more Sun Devils earned honorable mention nods for the All-Conference team, including defensive lineman Jermayne Lole, linebacker Kyle Soelle, and defensive back Evan Fields. This entire decorated group returns for another season at Arizona State in 2021.
As the Sun Devils' recruiting coordinator, Pierce is one of the most highly-respected figures on the recruiting trail, consistently ranking as one of the top recruiters in the conference. The 2021 signing class is still in progress, but Arizona State has officially signed four four-star prospects and several highly-rated three-star recruits. Pierce and company went to Florida to earn the signature of Tommi Hill, the No. 13 athlete in the country. The staff managed to sign the nation's No. 1 center prospect in the competitive state of Texas, Ezra Dotson-Oyetade. Linebackers Jaydon Williams and Eric Gentry, cornerback Robert Regan, and defensive end Gharin Stansbury are on their way to Tempe to play for Coach Pierce.
The 2020 recruiting class was the best ever in the Edwards/Pierce era, ranking 23rd nationally and fourth in the Pac-12 in 247Sports' Composite Rankings. It was the highest-ranked recruiting class for the program according to the publication since 2015. Several players from that class made an instant impact, including four-star prospects Johnny Wilson, Chip Trayanum, LV Bunkley-Shelton, Daniyel Ngata, and Jordan Banks.
Pierce helped put together the nation's No. 28 signing class for 2019, according to 247Sports' Composite Rankings – the fifth highest-graded class in the Pac-12. The Sun Devils managed to land Jayden Daniels, the No. 35 overall prospect in the country and No. 1 dual-threat quarterback prospect according to 247Sports. Daniels was one of five four-star prospects in the class, with Pierce landing Stephon Wright, Kejuan Markham, and Jack Jones for the defensive side of the ball.
Despite being just weeks on the job in the year prior, Pierce helped rally the 2018 Signing Class to 36th nationally and kept the Sun Devils in the top-half of the Pac-12 recruiting rankings. Merlin Robertson, Jermayne Lole, Darien Butler, and Michael Matus were a few of the standout defensive prospects from that class.
High school prospects are not the only talent pool Pierce will pull from, as he has been at the forefront of prioritizing the transfer portal market. The Sun Devils have been aggressive in pursuing players at other programs that can immediately help at ASU. Casey Tucker, Roe Wilkins, Kellen Diesch, Henry Hattis, and DeAndre Pierce became starters after coming to Tempe from the transfer portal. In the upcoming 2021 season, LSU transfer Travez Moore will compete for reps at defensive end.
The 2019 Sun Devil defense with Pierce as the linebackers' coach finished the regular season 39th in scoring defense, allowing just 23.1 points per game – notables as the Sun Devils had finished 99th or worse in three consecutive seasons prior to White's arrival in Tempe. ASU has held opponents to 30 points or less in 16 of 25 games in the previous two seasons after opponents scored at least 30 in 32 of 43 games previously.
In 2019 the Sun Devils have given up just two plays over 50 yards, tied for the fifth-fewest nationally. ASU was also tied for 9th nationally in allowing just 3 plays of over 50 yards last year after sitting in the bottom 10 nationally in the previous four years. ASU's eight plays allowed over 40 yards this season are 14th nationally. In 2018, ASU was tied for 11th nationally in allowing just 8 plays over 40 yards, an area the Devils had struggled in in previous seasons (allowing 20, 16, 30, 21 in the previous four seasons and finishing 103rd, 79th, 128th, 110th, respectively).
Pierce's linebackers were key in the Sun Devils staunch run defense in 2019. ASU ranked 21st nationally in allowing just 116.8 rushing yards per game – the best ranking at the end of the regular season for ASU since the 2009 Sun Devils were 19th (108.58 rushing yards per game). ASU has allowed 155 or fewer rushing yards in 11 of 12 games this season, the first time in program history to accomplish the feat since regular seasons expanded to 12 games in the late 1990s.
Under Pierce's guidance, Darien Butler was named the first true sophomore team captain in program history for the 2019 campaign. Butler would go on to be the seventh-highest graded linebacker in the Pac-12 on run defense, according to Pro Football Focus, while his 18 total quarterback pressures were tied for eighth among the league's linebacker.
Butler finished with 79 tackles on the season, leading the team in the category and adding five tackles for loss, leading the team with three forced fumbles and a sack and a fumble recovery.
Khaylan Kearse-Thomas enjoyed a breakout senior campaign in 2019 under Pierce and was named the team's most Outstanding Linebacker as a result. Kearse-Thomas led the team in tackles for loss with 11 – the most among non-edge rushing linebackers in the Pac-12 – and finished with 57 total tackles.
The senior was a part of five sacks this season, tied for first among Pac-12 linebackers. Among all linebackers and edge defenders in the Pac-12, he has recorded the 16th-best positive run impact percentage at 13.6%. Pierce's linebacker unit had a big impact in ASU's defensive success in 2018. Starting true freshmen linebackers Merlin Robertson (77 tackles/first) and Darien Butler (70 tackles/tied for second) were the team's top two leaders in tackles.
Robertson also led the team in tackles for loss (8.5), and sacks (5.0) and intercepted one pass on his way to earning 2018 Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. He became the first freshman to lead the team in tackles since Jason Shivers in 2001 and the first freshman to lead the team in tackles for loss and sacks since Junior Onyeali in 2010.
During his nine-year NFL career, Pierce played 137 regular season games (and seven playoff games) with the Washington Redskins (2001-04) and New York Giants (2005-09). Pierce captained the Giants' defense for five seasons, including 2007 when he helped anchor the championship team that upset the previously undefeated New England Patriots for a victory in Super Bowl XLII. He was also named to the Pro Bowl that season.
Signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2001, Pierce finished his career with 687 tackles, nine sacks and seven interceptions.
A native of Long Beach, Calif., Pierce played college football at the University of Arizona. As a senior, he had three sacks, 77 tackles (10 for losses), two forced fumbles, one interception, and one blocked kick for the Wildcats. Prior to Arizona, Pierce attended Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.
Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Pierce was the spokesperson for the Giants Academy inner city youth program in 2006, and he works with a number of not-for-profit organizations, including YMCA, DARE, Cystic Fibrosis, My Sisters Place, ASC Football Camp, City Meals on Wheels and Make a Wish Foundation. Pierce received the United Way's Man of the Year award in 2007 and was honored by Minority Athletes Networking Inc (M.A.N) as its 2008 'MAN of the Year,' for his excellence in the community. In 2011, Pierce was named to the California Community College Athletics Association's Hall of Fame.
In 2005, Pierce hosted his first annual free football camp for youth in his hometown of Compton, Calif., where it continued for seven years.
In 2006, Pierce started 'Antonio's A-List' at Giants Academy, the Giants charter academic program located in the Louise A. Spencer School in Newark, N.J. 'Antonio's A-List' is a motivational incentive program that rewarded Giants Academy Students that reached certain academic standards each semester and for the entire school year. Pierce visited the school, and accompanied the kids on service trips and preparing meals for the community.
During Pierce's NFL career he played for Marty Schottenheimer, Marvin Lewis, Steve Spurrier, George Edwards, Greg Williams, Joe Gibbs, Steve Spagnuolo and Tom Coughlin.