Arizona State football coach Todd Graham
announced the addition of former Illinois tight ends and fullbacks coach
Chip Long to his staff on Friday, making official a move first reported
earlier this week.
Long spent the past two seasons under Ron
Zook for the Fighting Illini and the previous two as a graduate
assistant working with tight ends at Arkansas. Before that, he served as
a graduate assistant working with wide receivers and quarterbacks at
Louisville.
Graham, who was hired away from Pittsburgh on Dec. 14
to replace Dennis Erickson, had also interviewed Erickson's tight ends
coach Jamie Christian. No Erickson era staff members have been retained.
Long
is the sixth assistant named to Graham's staff for 2012. Graham has not
yet assigned specific duties to his assistants. Graham's current staff
and their most recent position is as follows:
• Chip Long, tight ends/fullbacks coach, Illinois
• DelVaughn Alexander, wide receivers coach, Wisconsin
• Bob Connelly, associate head coach/co-offensive coordinator, UTEP
• Chris Thomsen, head coach, Abilene Christian (Division II)
• Chris Ball, associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach, Washington State
• Mike Norvell, co-offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh
