ASU Football: Tony White becomes new defensive coordinator, Antonio Pierce named associate head coach

After the departure of defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales to the University of New Mexico, Arizona State was in need of a new man to run the defense.

That new hiring process hasn’t taken long, as the Sun Devils named Tony White their next defensive coordinator. Additionally, former linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator Antonio Pierce has been promoted to associate head coach on the staff.

White, who is ASU’s former cornerbacks coach, slides right into his new role with plenty of experience with the defense after his time with Gonzales.

The assistant coach was formerly at San Diego State and New Mexico with Gonzales and Rocky Long, and now he’s gotten his position as the man calling the shots of the Sun Devil defense.

White is more than familiar with the 3-3-5 system that ASU has ran the last two seasons, and it seems that the defense should make a relatively smooth transition with White moving to his new role.

As for Pierce, the Super Bowl Champion moves to associate head coach after making great strides in recruiting and coaching ASU’s linebackers.

He is responsible for the development of standouts such as Merlin Robertson and Darien Butler, and he has also been one of the main culprits for the Sun Devils’ recruiting niche in Southern California.

The former Long Beach Poly High School coach has also targeted and developed other players in the secondary such as safety Aashari Crosswell and Kejuan and Keon Markham.

Pierce also aided in getting former USC cornerback and Long Beach Poly product Jack Jones to Tempe, where he played a lot of critical snaps for the Sun Devils at corner this season.

Both White and Pierce are already familiar with the Sun Devil program, and they both seemed like the favorites to be promoted as soon as Gonzales took the job in Albuquerque.

After a busy week with coaching changes on both the offense and defense, it seems that the coaching staff is all but set.