Arizona State football desperately needs to get next coaching hire right

Amid a 1-2 start and pending NCAA penalties, Arizona State football has fired head coach Herman Edwards after five seasons. First reported by 247Sports, the decision comes a day after the Sun Devils lost 30-21 to the Eastern Michigan Eagles at home. According to Chris Karpman of 247sports.com, the move is described as Edwards relinquishing his head coach.

Before taking the Arizona State job, Edwards was the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets head coach. He was also an analyst and television personality on ESPN.

Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson told Edwards about the decision this afternoon:

“We have made the decision to make a change in the leadership of our football program, effective immediately,” ASU athletic director Ray Anderson said. “By mutual agreement, Coach Edwards and I have determined that he will relinquish duties as our head coach. At the core of this is doing what is best for our current team, staff, and university. I understand the frustrations out there. We must do better, and that starts with our decision today.”

Running backs coach Shaun Aguano will be the interim head coach per Pete Thamel:

Where does Arizona State football go next?

Arizona State has always been a program that seems like the right coach to be a consistent contender in the Pac-12. The campus is located right outside a large market in Tempe and has some of the best facilities in the country, and the state of Arizona is one of the fastest-growing football states in the country.

Contrary to what some might think, this is a good job. It is arguably a top-five job in the Pac-12 and a top-20 job in the Power Five. The only factor that could hurt its search for a new head coach is looming NCAA penalties stemming from the football staff having recruits on campus during COVID restrictions.

If Ray Anderson gets this hire right, the Sun Devils could contend in the west.