Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receivers coach Billy Napier with wide receiver Daylon Charlot (4) against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama wide receivers coach Billy Napier is expected to be hired as Arizona State’s offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports.
The 37-year-old Napier will replace Chip Lindsey, who left Arizona State last week to be the Auburn offensive coordinator. The news was first reported by Fox Sports and USA Today.
Napier becomes the third assistant coach to leave Alabama since the end of the 2016 season. Lane Kiffin left coach Nick Saban’s staff to become the head coach at Florida Atlantic and Mario Cristobal left to be the co-offensive coordinator, run-game coordinator and offensive line coach at Oregon.
Napier previously was Clemson’s first offensive coordinator under Dabo Swinney from 2009-10, getting the job at age 29. Napier was fired by Swinney following the 2010 season.
Napier, a former Furman quarterback, landed at Alabama as an offensive analyst in 2011, then moved to Colorado State as the quarterbacks coach for a year. He returned to Alabama in 2013 to coach the receivers for the last four years.
Napier will be reunited with former Alabama quarterback Blake Barnett, who transferred to Arizona State in December.
