The NCAA has dealt a substantial blow to former Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards, signaling a potential end to his coaching career in the college ranks.
The enforcement action reveals that Edwards has been slapped with a three-year “show cause” order for his involvement in recruiting violations within the Arizona State program.
This penalty effectively bars Edwards from coaching at any NCAA-affiliated institution for the duration of the order, unless a hiring institution can demonstrate compelling reasons why it should not face sanctions.
Former Jets and Chiefs coach Herm Edwards receives "show cause" penalty of at least three years from NCAA over Arizona State recruiting violations. https://t.co/1snlBaKWc3
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 19, 2024
The violations stem from alleged meetings between Edwards and over 30 high school recruits during the COVID-19 “dead” period, a period when in-person recruiting activities were prohibited by NCAA regulations.
In addition to the penalty imposed on Edwards, Arizona State has been directed to vacate 10 wins from the 2021 and 2022 seasons, a move that revises Edwards’s win-loss record during his tenure with the Sun Devils to 18-20.
The repercussions of the NCAA’s investigation extend beyond Edwards, as Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who served as an assistant under Edwards at Arizona State, remains under scrutiny by the governing body. Pierce could potentially face a similar “show cause” order, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Following his departure from Arizona State, Edwards has transitioned back to a role with ESPN, where he currently works. The imposition of the “show cause” penalty casts doubt on the possibility of Edwards returning to the college coaching realm in the foreseeable future, marking a significant chapter in his storied career.
