Herm Edwards had never posted a losing season in his five seasons as the head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Apparently, that didn’t matter to members of his staff.
After a disappointing loss to Eastern Michigan last weekend, and despite going 26-20 during his tenure, Edwards was fired.
It wasn’t much of a surprise, especially after the team stood at 1-2 after the lethargic loss to the MAC school.
But what was surprising was the news that followed.
According to Doug Haller of The Athletic, it appears that some within the Arizona St. athletics family had it in for Edwards and weren’t deterred from sharing information with the opposition to facilitate his downfall.
Per the Athletic:
“An opposing coach recently told The Athletic that it wasn’t hard to get intel on this season’s team because some within Arizona State athletics wanted a coaching change.”
That is a stunning allegation. If proven true, that’s a major violation both athletically and morally.
For a head coach to be torpedoed by members of his own program is unprofessional, unethical and one of the most cowardly, backstabbing ways of forcing change.
And to do it to a man who has dedicated his life to the game and helping those around and behind him would be infuriating.
Now some will point to the investigation Edwards’ program faces for alleged recruiting violations.
They will also focus on the instability of his program after some of their best players transferred out and a number of coaches left for other opportunities, including right-hand man and associate head coach, Antonio Pierce.
Heller details a program that spiraled downward after the pandemic, and his story highlights lapses of attention under Edwards’ watch. That includes practice habits and understanding the rules.
Herm Edwards was a popular figure in the desert and returned the love he was shown.
But in the end, his attention to detail and alleged backstabbing by members of the Sun Devils family might have been the nails in his coffin.
