Reports: Multiple Arizona State assistants, including OC, leave program amid NCAA investigation

Arizona State offensive coordinator Zak Hill is among the coaches to leave the program after an NCAA review, according to multiple reports. DevilsDigest of Rivals first reported the news.

Hill resigned after an NCAA investigation into alleged recruiting violations. The results of the investigation led to Hill’s resignation, according to Devils Digest.

Three other assistants — wide receivers coach Prentice Gill, secondary coach Chris Hawkins and tight ends coach Adam Breneman — are also reportedly no longer with the program. They were previously placed on administrative leave in August.

Hill joined Arizona State in 2020 after four years with Boise State. While with the Broncos, he worked with Bryan Harsin, who’s now the head coach at Auburn. In fact, Harsin wanted to hire Hill to become the Tigers’ new offensive coordinator. He ended up hiring Austin Davis for the role.

Arizona State went 8-5 overall and 6-3 in Pac-12 play this season. The Sun Devils appeared in the Las Vegas Bowl, where they fell to Wisconsin 20-13 on Dec. 30.

More on the Arizona State investigation

In June, it was announced the NCAA was investigating allegations of violations within the Sun Devils football program.

“ASU can confirm the NCAA is conducting an investigation regarding allegations related to our football program,” Arizona State vice president of media relations and strategic communications Katie Paquet told The Athletic in a statement. “In accordance with NCAA bylaws, the university cannot provide further comment at this time.”

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 ESPN’s 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.