Sparky's 2015 Coaching Carousel

Shawn Slocum: Special Teams Coordinator (1st Year w/ ASU)

In with the new, we kick off with coordinator Shawn Slocum. Coach Slocum might be the new guy on the block, but is no slouch. Serving as the Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator for the past 9 years, Slocum has a Super Bowl ring to show for his time in Wisconsin. Since 1990, Shawn has been coaching at the FBS level and above, mentoring such players as Patrick Willis, Shane Lechler, Dat Nguyen and Chris Claiborne. To add to a wealth of experience, Slocum comes with a massive coaching pedigree. The AdvoCare Texas Kickoff will be bitter sweet as A&M's winningest coach is his father, R.C.

Fun Fact - Coach Slocum is also a fan of the infamous "Madonna" mic.

Keith Patterson: Co-Defensive Coordinator (2nd Year w/ ASU)

Despite Todd Graham's apparent obsession with his high flying defenses, he relented control last year to two men he knew he could trust. One of which is old friend Keith Patterson. Patterson began coaching with CTG in 2000, joining his Allen (TX) High School staff as special teams coach. Just three short years later, he landed a job at Tulsa, coaching linebackers and eventually earned his chance at DC in 2006, a year before Graham's arrival. Keith followed Coach Graham to Pitt and served as interim head coach in their 2011 bowl game after Graham had committed himself to joining the Sun Devils. Two years removed from the Pitt period unpleasantness, Keith Patterson left WVU to join the Maroon & Gold as co-DC and hasn't looked back.

Fun Fact - Patterson and Graham were roommates at the East Central University.

Chris Ball: Co-Defensive Coordinator (4th Year w/ ASU)

While Patterson focuses in on the linebacker unit, Chris Ball organizes the secondary. Arizona State is Coach Ball's fourth FBS university to coach at (Washington State, Alabama, and Pitt being the other three). Ball has mentored a running total of 9 NFL draft picks, including Pro Bowler Marcus Trufant and the Packers' 2015 first round pick Damarious Randall. A well respected position coach, Ball was named Sporting News's 2009 Best Postion Coach among his PAC-12 (then PAC-10) colleagues. Leaving Wazzu to coach with CTG, his leap of faith was rewarded with the co-defensive coordinator role in 2013.

Fun Fact - Coach Ball loves the Sun Devil gold so much that @SunDevilEquip has said he regularly complains about not having enough coaching gear in the color.

Mike Norvell: Deputy Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator (4th Year w/ ASU)

Deputy Norvell joined the Todd Graham coaching tree in 2007, leaving his alma mater Central Arkansas. After spenting two years absorbing Graham's baby-Oregon offense style offense, he left Tulsa as their passing game coordinator. Following CTG to Pitt, he became his offensive coordinator and that hasn't changed since. Following the successful turnaround seasons in 2012 and 2013, Norvell was on the hot list for many FBS schools coaching searches, but returned to Arizona State for a pay raise and a deputy badge. One of the best up and coming young coaches in college football, Norvell's best coaching days are still ahead of him.

Fun Fact - Norvell is his alma mater's all-time leader in receptions at 213, which would place him second on Arizona State's all-time list trailing only Derek Hagan.

Todd Graham: Head Coach (4th Year w/ ASU)

Despite being the second choice for the job, Todd Graham has risen to the top of the class at Arizona State. After leading successful turnarounds at Rice and Tulsa, Graham spent a fall in Pittsburgh before trading the Steel City in for the Valley of the Sun. Upon his arrival in Tempe, he took a middling Arizona State program to the top of the PAC-12, leading his teams of the past two years to double digit wins. With three bowl game and one PAC-12 Championship appearance under his belt, CTG has ASU trending upwards, with this year's incarnation starting in the top 25 in most major polls. Graham's arrival in Tempe has signaled a new level of excellence for Sun Devil athletics, with a new, higher target to reach, making these past years some of the most exciting times to be an Arizona State fan.

Fun Fact - In case you needed another reason to love the catch phrase quipping, southern maniac that is Todd Graham, he might be Mark May's greatest enemy.