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02/26/2013
Sun Devil Football Names Jackie Shipp to the Coaching Staff
Shipp is a former NFL linebacker who led the Miami Dolphins to the 1985 Super Bowl and who has spent the past 22 years coaching college football, including four national championship games.
12/18/2012
The Man Behind the Facemask - Part One
Senior cornerback will leave behind a legacy as a player, a scholar, a giver and a father
02/11/2012
ASU Football Coach Todd Graham Announces Full-Time Coaching Staff Organizational Chart
Arizona State University head football coach Todd Graham, who completed his full-time coaching staff Friday with the appointment of Larry Porter, today announced his full-time assistant coaching organizational chart and responsibilities list.
Chris Ball
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach
Chris Ball enters his second season at Arizona State under head coach Todd Graham. After serving as defensive passing game coordinator and safeties coach in 2012, Ball was promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2013.
Ball made an instant impact in his first season with the Sun Devils as he ushered a turnaround that saw the secondary make drastic improvements in passing defense and passing efficiency defense. His unit led the Pac-12 in both categories and ranked third in the nation in the former (167.92 yards per game) and 10th in the nation in the latter (105.45) after finishing near the bottom of the Pac-12 in both categories in 2011. Safeties Alden Darby and Keelan Johnson combined for eight interceptions to lead a defense that finished fourth in the nation with 21 interceptions. Johnson led the team with five interceptions and tied for 17th in the country with .38 interceptions per game. In addition, cornerback Osahon Irabor led the team with 14 passes defensed and didn't have a single pass interference called against him all season.
Before Arizona State, Ball worked with Washington State University, where he was defensive coordinator. He also spent time at Pitt and Alabama, mentoring numerous NFL talents.
In his four seasons at Washington State, Ball served as assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. He arrived at WSU after spending the 2007 season as secondary coach at Pitt. In 2009, Ball was named the best position coach in the Pac-10 by The Sporting News.
During his only season with the Panthers, the Pitt defense ranked fourth nationally in pass defense (167.3 ypg) and seventh in total defense (297.7 ypg).
From 2003 to 2006, Ball coached the secondary for the Alabama Crimson Tide. In 2004, Ball's secondary led the nation in pass defense, allowing just 113.1 passing yards per game and finishing second nationally in pass efficiency defense. The following season the Alabama secondary ranked fifth in both pass defense (160.8 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (97.8 rating), and the Crimson Tide ranked second nationally in total defense. In 2006, Ball oversaw the progress of free safety Roman Harper, who earned All-SEC honors and was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back.
From 2000 to 2002, Ball coached defensive backs at Washington State, mentoring future NFL great Marcus Trufant. During his three seasons, WSU's defense compiled 56 interceptions, including 26 during the 2001 campaign, which tied for second nationally.
The St. Louis, Mo., native and 1981 graduate of Webster Grove High played football at Missouri Western State College and later served as a graduate assistant and defensive coordinator at his alma mater.
The 1985 All-American defensive back coached at both Northeast Missouri State (1986-87) and Akron (1987-88) before joining Mike Price's staff in 1989. He coached at Coffeyville Community College (1990-94), Western Oregon State College (1995-96) and Missouri Western State (1997-98).
Prior to joining the Cougar staff in 2000, Ball spent the 1999 season as defensive coordinator for Idaho State head coach Larry Lewis.
Ball and his wife Tandi have three children, son Brennan (20) and daughters Abby (9) and Ella Grace (2).
