Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards is hiring San Diego State defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales to the same position, according to a source.
Gonzales will replace Phil Bennett, who last week resigned as defensive coordinator because of personal reasons. Arizona State had hoped Bennett would stay on with Edwards. Bennett still will coach the Sun Devils against NC State in the Hyundai Sun Bowl on Dec. 29.
SunDevilSource.com first reported the Gonzales hire. He is expected to receive a two-year contract with Arizona State. Gonzales was promoted to defensive coordinator this season after spending the previous six coaching the Aztecs safeties. He worked with San Diego State coach Rocky Long at New Mexico and played for the Lobos.
San Diego State ranks 11th nationally in total defense (303.5 ypg) and 14th nationally in points allowed (18.4 ppg). The Aztecs face Army on Saturday in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Arizona State announced the hiring of former Washington Redskin and New York Giant linebacker Antonio Pierce as their linebackers coach.
Pierce has spent the past four seasons as the head coach at Long Beach Poly High School in California.
Pierce played one year at archrival Arizona in 2000.