Ball joins coaching staff at Arizona State

TEMPE, Ariz. – New Arizona State coach Todd Graham has added four assistant coaches to his staff, including Chris Ball, who was co-defensive coordinator at Washington State.

The school announced Friday that Ball, Abilene Christian head coach Chris Thomsen, UTEP co-offensive coordinator Bob Connelly, and Mike Norvell, a member of Graham’s staffs at Tulsa and Pittsburgh, were joining the staff.

Graham, after one season at Pitt, was hired Wednesday to replace Dennis Erickson, who was fired after five seasons.

Ball also spent time at Pitt and Alabama, while Connelly also coached the Crimson Tide and at UCLA.

Thomsen took Abilene Christian to six straight playoff berths and was 51-21 in his seven seasons there.

Norvell spent five seasons with Graham, the last as co-offensive coordinator at Pitt.