Newly appointed Arizona State head football coach Todd Graham is wasting little time in filling out his coaching staff as it was announced on Friday that Graham has hired his long time assistant coach Mike Norvell as well as former Washington State co-defensive coordinator Chris Ball to his coaching staff.
Norvell has been with Graham for the past five season at both Tulsa and Pitt, starting as an offensive graduate assistant and wide receivers coach with Tulsa. He would go one to become passing game coordinator and receivers coach for two seasons, then become director of recruiting for Graham in 2010. He was the director of recruiting, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach for Pitt during their 2011 campaign.
As for Ball, his last three seasons have been spent as WSU's assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, where he was a defensive backs coach from 2000-2002 as well. He was a secondary coach at Pitt in 2007, and from 2003-2006, was the secondary coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Ball's secondary was one of the top in the nation under his tutelage, including a 2004 season that saw Alabama's defense rank first nationally in pass defense (113.1 passing ypg) and second in pass efficiency defense.
Norvell has been a critical part of Graham's high powered offenses over the past few years, while Ball brings his defensive expertise and knowhow to a Sun Devils program looking for a bit of rejuvenation. Todd Graham has hit the ground running.
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