VIDEO: Know your football staff - Chris Ball
Chris Ball enters his second season at Arizona State under head coach Todd Graham.
Ball made an instant impact in his first season with the Sun Devils as he ushered a turnaround that saw the secondary make drastic improvements in passing defense and passing efficiency defense. His unit led the Pac-12 in both categories after finishing 11th and ninth, respectively, in those categories in the conference in 2011. Safeties Alden Darby and Keelan Johnson combined for eight interceptions to lead a defense that finished fourth in the nation with 21 interceptions.
- Notables from 2012
- Ranked third nationally and led the Pac-12 in passing defense (167.92)
- Ranked 10th nationally and led the Pac-12 in passing efficiency defense (105.45)
- Finished the year with 21 interceptions, which tied for fourth in the nation
- Johnson led the team with five interceptions and tied for 17th in the country with .38 interceptions per game
- Allowed just 48 passing yards vs. Oregon, its fewest in a conference game since Nov. 2, 1996
- DB Osahon Irabor led the team with 14 passes defensed and didn't have a single pass interference called against him all season
Before Arizona State Ball worked with Washington State University, where he was Co-Defensive Coordinator. He also spent time at Pitt and at Alabama, mentoring numerous NFL talents.
Ball spent the past four seasons at Washington State as Assistant Head Coach, Co-Defensive Coordinator and Safeties coach. He arrived at WSU after spending the 2007 season as secondary coach at Pitt.
During his only season with the Panthers, the Pitt defense ranked fourth nationally in pass defense (167.3 ypg) and seventh in total defense (297.7 ypg).
From 2003 to 2006, Ball coached the secondary for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC. In 2004, Ball's secondary led the nation in pass defense, allowing just 113.1 passing yards per game and finishing second nationally in pass efficiency defense. The following season the Alabama secondary ranked fifth in both pass defense (160.8 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (97.8 rating), and the Crimson Tide ranked second nationally in total defense.
In 2006, Ball oversaw the progress of free safety Roman Harper, who earned All-SEC honors and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back.
From 2000 to 2002, Ball coached defensive backs at Washington State, mentoring future NFL great Marcus Trufant. During his three seasons, WSU's defense compiled 56 interceptions, including 26 during the 2001 campaign, which tied for second nationally.
The St. Louis, Mo., native and 1981 graduate of Webster Grove High played football at Missouri Western State College and later served as a graduate assistant and defensive coordinator at his alma mater.
The 1985 All-American defensive back coached at both Northeast Missouri State (1986-87) and Akron (1987-88) before joining Mike Price's staff in 1989. He coached at Coffeyville Community College (1990-94), Western Oregon State College (1995-96) and Missouri Western State (1997-98).
Prior to joining the Cougar staff in 2000, Ball spent the 1999 season as defensive coordinator for Idaho State Head Coach Larry Lewis.