Arizona State names Donnie Henderson defensive coordinator

Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards didn't need to look far for a defensive coordinator and named Donnie Henderson to the post vacated by Antonio Pierce nine days ago.

Henderson has been in the program in various capacities. Last season he served as interim defensive backs coach, taking the place of previous position coach Chris Hawkins, who was one of three assistant coaches put on administrative leave in wake of the NCAA investigation into recruiting violations at ASU.

It will be the second stint on the staff at ASU for Henderson, 64, as he previously worked on the staff from 1992-1997. He was a coaching for the team that went 11-0 in the 1996 regular season and went on to the 1997 Rose Rose Bowl where it lost to Ohio State 20-17.

"I want to thank Ray Anderson, Jean Boyd, and Coach Edwards for this opportunity," Henderson said in the school's press release. "I am excited about the challenge to continue the standard of the way we play football here that has been established by the coordinators before me. My family is thrilled and humbled to have this opportunity."

Former NFL veteran coach Marvin Lewis, who has been on staff as an analyst and advisor to Edwards will remain an integral factor on the defensive side of the ball. Lewis was defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 1996 to 2001, with Henderson on staff with the Ravens part of that time as coach of the secondary. Both were part of the Super Bowl winning staff in 2000.

That year the team set NFL records for fewest points and rushing yards allowed in a season.

"We are very fortunate to have an experienced and deep bench on our coaching staff. This will allow us to continue the advancement of our defensive plan through the elevation of former Analyst and interim Defensive Backs Coach Donnie Henderson," Edwards said in the same release. "He's coached some of the game's great players at the highest level with the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens and coordinated a defense for me with the New York Jets. He coached with five other NFL teams and was on the Rose Bowl staff of the late Bruce Snyder at ASU. He will work in tandem while coordinating our defense with Special Assistant To The Head Coach Marvin Lewis, one of the game's great defensive minds. Our defensive players will have two of the game's finest defensive minds working with them."

Henderson returned to the ASU program in February of 2020 as a consultant, which made him a logical selection as interim defensive backs coach when that need came up last fall.

Under the guidance of Henderson, Chase Lucas, DeAndre Pierce, and Jack Jones each earned Pac-12 All-Conference honors. The three defensive back selections were the most for the program since the 2014 season. Lucas and Jones earned invitations to the East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL Combine, putting them in a position to be selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Sun Devil secondary was third in the Pac-12 in passing defense, allowing just 194.8 yards per game. It allowed less than 100 yards passing on three occasions and held two other foes under 150 yards passing.

That unit also finished eighth in the country with 16 interceptions. The Sun Devils picked off multiple passes in five games, highlighted by three-interception efforts against Southern Utah and Stanford.

Henderson has coached eight NFL Pro Bowlers, including Professional Football Hall of Fame inductee Rod Woodson. He has also coached two AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honorees in Jonathan Vilma (2004) and Ronald Darby (2015).

Henderson's NFL experience includes coaching assignments with the Baltimore Ravens (1999-2003/assistant DBs coach and DBs coach, Super Bowl winner in 2000 and AFC North champions in 2003), New York Jets (2004-05/defensive coordinator), Detroit Lions (2006/defensive coordinator), Cincinnati Bengals (2007/consultant), Jacksonville Jaguars (2008/secondary coach), Arizona Cardinals (2010/secondary coach) and Buffalo Bills (2013-15/secondary coach).

Henderson started his coaching career at the college level. After his initial stop at Utah State (1983-88/graduate assistant and outside linebackers coach), Henderson moved on to Idaho (1989/recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach) before earning successive positions in the Pac-10 with Cal (1990-91/outside linebackers coach) and his first stop at ASU (1992-97/safeties coach and defensive backs coach). Henderson also coached one season at the University of Houston (1998/assistant head coach and defensive backs coach) before moving to the pro ranks with Baltimore in 1999.

Henderson returned to the college ranks for two seasons as an assistant coach at Southern (2011/secondary coach) and Syracuse (2012/secondary coach) before returning to the NFL to accept the position in Buffalo. At Southern, Henderson guided the Jaguars defensive backfield that ranked 29th nationally in pass defense.

In addition to his NCAA and NFL coaching positions, Henderson has also coached in the UFL (volunteer assistant coach for the California Redwoods in 2009), The Spring League (defensive coordinator in 2017-18), NFL Pathway (secondary coach in 2018) and the AAF (defensive coordinator for the Salt Lake City Stallions in 2019).

With the recent addition of Brian Billick as an offensive analyst and advisor to the head coach, Edwards' staff now has 75+ years of NFL and over 100 combined years of coaching experience.

Pierce was Edwards' first hire when he was named head coach and had held several titles, serving as defensive coordinator the last two years. He stepped down to pursue NFL opportunities but had been under fire because he also served as recruiting coordinator and the current NCAA investigation centers around recruiting violations, which fell under his umbrella.

Reach the reporter at Michelle.Gardner@gannett.com or 602 444-4783. Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Donnie Henderson to replace Antonio Pierce as ASU defensive coordinator