Arizona State OC Billy Napier leaves to be Louisiana-Lafayette coach

Before coming to Arizona State, Napier was an assistant at Alabama. (TideSports.com)
Before coming to Arizona State, Napier was an assistant at Alabama. (TideSports.com)

It doesn’t appear that Arizona State’s grand football plan is going too well.

The school hired Herm Edwards as the team’s head coach to serve as a CEO of sorts in an announcement that contained more corporate jargon than the explanation of a pyramid scheme. The idea was that Edwards would come in and lead the program while coordinators Billy Napier and Phil Bennett stayed in their same capacities.

Well, neither Napier or Bennett will be with the team in 2018. Napier accepted the head coaching job at Louisiana-Lafayette Friday.

“I wish Bill nothing but the best in his coaching career. I can assure all Sun Devil fans that I am working diligently on hiring a coaching staff that will fit what we are trying to accomplish at ASU, led by incredible senior quarterback Manny Wilkins,” Edwards said in a statement. “Assistant Head Coach and Running Backs Coach John Simon and Co-Offensive Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach Rob Likens will be a part of my staff going forward.”

Edwards was hired to replace the fired Todd Graham. After Edwards’ arrival was official, the school said Napier had been promoted to be the team’s associate head coach. It was clear the coordinator was a big part of Arizona State’s plans.

Napier arrived at Arizona State before the 2017 season after serving as an assistant coach at Alabama. He came to the team as Alabama quarterback Blake Barnett transferred to the Sun Devils, though Wilkins ended up serving as ASU’s starting quarterback.

After announcing Graham’s firing, Arizona State athletic director Ray Anderson — who was Edwards’ agent when the coach was coaching in the NFL — said Wilkins didn’t need a fourth coordinator in four years. Oops.

The team announced earlier this week that Bennett, who had been with the team for just the 2017 season as well, would be leaving at the end of the season. Edwards said he wanted to retain Bennett but the DC was leaving for family reasons.

Bennett was Baylor’s defensive coordinator before coming to Arizona State.

Napier will replace Mark Hudspeth at Louisiana-Lafayette, a team that went 4-8 in 2017. Mississippi State announced Thursday that Hudspeth would serve as an assistant coach to new coach Joe Moorhead.

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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!