The Pac-12 conference claims another Nick Saban assistant.
After serving as wide receivers coach in since 2013, Alabama’s Billy Napier has accepted an offensive coordinator position at Arizona State University. News of this was first reported by Matt Zenitz of AL.com, as Napier comes off a year in which he coached two 500-plus yard targets. He joins former Tide offensive tackles/tight ends coach Mario Cristobal, who accepted a co-offensive coordinator role at Oregon.
Prior to molding receivers, Napier was hired as an offensive analyst in 2011. He coached both Amari Cooper (2014) and Calvin Ridley (2015) to 1,000-yard seasons, while helping Cooper become a first round NFL Draft pick. Napier was an offensive coordinator before, working under Dabo Swinney at Clemson from 2009-10.
During the ’09 season, he mentored the offense to 31.1 points and 407.4 yards a game. Napier took a quarterback in Kyle Parker and groomed him to be a Freshman All-American. Parker tossed for 2,526 yards and 20 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, helping the Tigers secure an ACC Atlantic Division title at 9-5.
Napier takes over for the departed Chip Lindsey (Auburn), much to the delight of former Alabama quarterback Blake Barnett—who committed to the Sun Devils on Dec. 5, 2016.
So excited to have Coach Napier on board!!! #ForksUp
— B² (@Blake8Barnett) January 29, 2017
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
