Arizona State promotes Rob Likens to offensive coordinator

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Arizona State coach Herm Edwards promoted Rob Likens to offensive coordinator Friday, hours after Billy Napier left to take the head coaching job at Louisiana-Lafayette.

Likens was the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach this season under fired head coach Todd Graham. Likens' new official title is offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

"It's an opportunity to work with Coach Edwards and I am thankful for this opportunity," Likens said a university statement. "We hit it off instantly when we met and had discussions about the future and the direction we both saw this program going. Between his energy and mine, I don't know if kids will be ready to handle us both in the same room."

Edwards took over the Sun Devils last week and had promoted Napier to associate head coach and offensive coordinator. Likens was Kansas' offensive coordinator from 2015-16 before joining Graham's staff.

"There was no doubt in my mind that Rob Likens was the man we needed to step up and fill this role as offensive coordinator," Edwards said in the school's release. "Coach Likens provides much needed consistency and stability as we continue to build our staff."

Arizona State also said John Simon will remain assistant head coach and running backs coach. The Sun Devils are without a defensive coordinator after Phil Bennett said this week that he will not return.

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