SDSU's Tony White accepts position with Arizona State
Arizona State has hired away San Diego State corners coach and recruiting coordinator Tony White, according to multiple sources.
SDSU head coach Rocky Long recently offered White a promotion to "associate head coach in charge of recruiting" along with potential co-defensive coordinator responsibilities, but White's preference to expand his duties as a football coach nudged him toward ASU despite the proposed promotion.
White, with a "defensive passing game coordinator" title, will join former SDSU safeties coach Danny Gonzales at ASU. Gonzales received a promotion in title to defensive coordinator from Long last spring, but only handled defensive play calling duties during spring camp.
Sun Devils new head coach Herm Edwards offered Gonzales the defensive coordinator position along with full control of play calling duties. It was accepted in mid-December, prior to the Aztecs 42-35 Armed Forces Bowl loss to Army.
White was also offered a "secondaries coach" position at ASU at this time, but waited to hear out Long's plan/counter offer mentioned above.
White would have likely taken the same path as Gonzales had he continued his career at SDSU, which would have entailed more control over the defense during spring ball and slightly more participation with the weekly game plans during the fall. He would also continue playing a major role in the program's recruiting efforts, where he has been involved with nearly every single Aztecs signee since being named coordinator in 2011 (while specializing in the Los Angeles/Long Beach recruiting areas).
Instead, White will transition to ASU with the intention to have more involvement with coaching responsibilities and less of a role with recruiting - although he's always going to have a knack for scouting and evaluating talent.
It is worth mentioning Edwards' plan to have an NFL-like approach in the ASU football department, known as the 'New Leadership Model.' It was mentioned in the press release announcing Edwards' hire that the former NFL coach and ESPN personality will play a major role in recruiting while the assistants will carry plenty of weight as on-field coaches.
"In the spirit of innovation, our vision for this program is to have a head coach who serves as a CEO and is the central leader with a collaborative staff around him that will elevate the performance of players and coaches on the field, in the classroom and in our community," read ASU AD Ray Anderson's statement following the hiring of Edwards. "Equally important, the head coach will be a dynamic and tireless recruiter."
This is believed to be White's preference as he attempts to move up the coaching ladder. White will likely have more input in game planning and scheming with Coach Gonzales than he did with Coach Long.
Moving forward for SDSU, Long will have to establish his 2018 coaching staff following a number of offseason changes.
Along with the departures of White and Gonzales, associate head coach/special teams coordinator Bobby Hauck was hired in December to become Montana's head coach.
SDSU linebackers coach Zach Arnett was also a candidate to depart for Montana, but Hauck's staff has been filing up without the inclusion of Arnett's name to this date. Arnett could be enticed to remain at SDSU for a larger role with the defense under Long following the departures of Gonzales and White.
Arnett is also capable of potentially handling the recruiting coordinator position left over by White, although wide receivers coach Hunkie Cooper and defensive line coach Ernie Lawson also seem to have the type of energetic personalities that can handle the workload and connect with prospects.
It is possible that Long will be patient with the hiring process.
Because of that, it is unlikely that SDSU hosts any prospective student athletes on campus for official visits when the 'contact period' reopens next week. While the school can host visitors during the weekend of Jan. 12, SDSU isn't expected to have any recruits in until the weekend of Jan. 19. That buys Long enough time to at least decide on an interim recruiting coordinator, should he see the need for one prior to national signing day in early February.
(Check ASR's premium message board, The Mesa, for some rumored candidates.)
Doug Deakin, who was once a graduate assistant on defense and special teams for SDSU and is now an assistant to Jashon Sykes for Football Operations, is expected to take over Hauck's role as special teams coordinator. Deakin is also an option to coordinate recruiting.