Antonio Pierce lands NFL coaching job following Arizona State resignation

Former Arizona State defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce has reached an agreement to become the linebackers coach for the Las Vegas Raiders, per NFL reporter Mike Garafolo. Pierce resigned from his position with the Sun Devils on Feb. 2 in the midst of an NCAA investigation into the program.

Arizona State coaches, including Pierce, allegedly paid for recruits’ travel to Tempe and covered their lodging in addition to meeting with them. Sun Devils head coach Herm Edwards was said to be in “impermissible local meetings” with recruits along with three assistants and Pierce, Sun Devil Source reported. Between March 2020 and May 2021, programs couldn’t meet with recruits in-person due to COVID-19.

The NCAA is also looking into alleged recruiting travel outside of Arizona by members of the coaching staff. At that time, the NCAA wasn’t allowing that.

When asked if he felt any responsibility for the actions of the coaches accused of recruiting violations under his watch, Pierce simply responded “I have no comment on that,” via Doug Haller.

The Las Vegas Raiders finished this past season with a 10-7 record, losing to Cincinnati in the wildcard round of the playoffs. Pierce will work under defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who was hired earlier this month.

A linebacker in his playing days, Pierce was a former Pro Bowler with the New York Giants in 2006. He was also a member of the team in 2008 when they claimed a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. Prior to arriving at Arizona State in 2018, he was a high school head coach in California.

More on Antonio Pierce, Arizona State football allegations

According to multiple reports, an anonymous person sent a dossier of dozens of pages to the Arizona State athletic department. Within this dossier were receipts, pictures, screenshots and emails related to multiple potential recruiting violations committed by the Sun Devils staff.

Among the allegations, Arizona State allegedly hosted recruits during the NCAA-mandated recruiting dead period in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that started in the spring of 2020 and last until June 1, 2021.

In Pete Thamel’s report of the allegations he cited multiple sources stating:

“At least 30 players visited campus over a span of months,” Thamel stated. “A practice so common coaches referenced ‘official visit weekends’ in staff meetings, coaches bumped into recruits and families in a back stairwell and a routine developed of facility tours being given around 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. at night.”

Also among the allegations are claims members of the Arizona State coaching staff assisted in arranging trips for recruits to visit campus in Tempe. In the dossier are emails from Regina Jackson, the mother of ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels, allegedly assisting with booking more than $1,100 in flights for recruits and their families on a trip from Florida. Hawkins, Gill and Breneman are alleged to be involved.

“In the dossier is an email forwarding a ticket for the guardian of one of the recruits.” Thamel stated. “The email is from Jackson to an email address for Chris Hawkins, the ASU defensive backs coach. Hawkins then forwarded the ticket to the guardian. There are receipts explicitly listing the names of two recruits on their tickets with their flight locator numbers, and both are purchased by the credit card that the documents tie to Jackson.”

On3’s Austin Brezina and James Fletcher contributed to this report.