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Arizona State Sun Devils coach Todd Graham made an addition to his staff late on Thursday night, reportedly hiring away play-caller and wide receivers coach Jay Norvell from the Texas Longhorns.
Horns Digest writer Chip Brown first reported the story, and ESPN.com later broke the news that Norvell would be in charge of the Arizona State passing game and receiving corps.
The #Longhorns staff attrition continues: WR coach Jay Norvell is expected to leave Texas, via @ChipBrownHD. https://t.co/PbQwFQvfA8
— Taylor Gaspar (@Taylor_Gaspar) February 12, 2016
Norvell — no relation to former ASU offensive coordinator Mike Norvell — served as the Longhorns offensive coordinator for the final 11 games of the 2015 season. Before arriving in Austin, Norvell worked for the Oklahoma Sooners in numerous capacities from 2008-2014.
He began his coaching career at Iowa as a graduate assistant in 1986 and spent one year (2007) in the Pac-10, serving as UCLA's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Under Norvell, the Longhorns finished 83rd in the country last season in scoring offense. Texas finished the year with a record of 5-7.
What is not yet known is what the move means for current Sun Devil passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach DelVaughn Alexander. Alexander has held that position since Graham's inaugural season at ASU in 2012.
The move is also a surprise considering ASU didn't have an open offensive position on the surface, and still has yet to hire a defensive line coach after Jackie Shipp left for the Missouri Tigers on Feb. 1.
Arizona State is heading into its first full season under offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who was hired in December and already received a pay raise after reportedly courting the Southern Miss head coaching opening.
[UPDATE: 11:36 a.m.] Per Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic, ASU is expected to keep Alexander in a different capacity with the team:
His next role is not known. He could move to tight ends or he could transition into a support role, like former defensive line coach Paul Randolph did two years ago. He is expected to stay in the program, but that could change, too.
Randolph served as a co-defensive coordinator from 2012-13 before moving to Sun Devil Athletics administration as "associate athletic director of championship life." He is now serving as Mike Norvell's defensive line coach at Memphis.