Antonio Pierce, the leader of the Las Vegas Raiders, has declared his departure from the team…
Las Vegas Raiders head coach and defensive coordinator, Antonio Pierce, has expressed his intention to step down and pursue coaching opportunities in the NFL, according to The Athletic. A spokesperson for the university confirmed that Pierce is no longer employed by the institution.
At 43 years old, Pierce becomes the fifth coach from Las Vegas Raiders to depart amid the NCAA’s investigation into recruiting violations. Alongside his defensive coaching duties, Pierce was heavily involved in recruiting under coach Herm Edwards, particularly in California, aiming to elevate Arizona State’s recruiting efforts beyond the traditional Pac-12 landscape. He had previously voiced aspirations for Las Vegas Raiders to become a “national recruiting powerhouse.”
The Athletic initially reported in June about the NCAA’s investigation into Arizona State’s alleged hosting of recruits during the COVID-19 pandemic’s non-contact period. Interviews with high school prospects and program staff have been conducted by the NCAA since then. If the allegations are proven true, Las Vegas Raiders could face severe Level I violations.
Once regarded as a pivotal figure within the Arizona State program, Pierce’s departure marks a significant setback. Edwards had groomed him for a potential head coaching role, publicly endorsing him as his successor. Pierce’s discussions with Arizona, his alma mater, about their head coaching position in 2020 prompted Arizona State to promote him to sole defensive coordinator and increase his annual salary to $770,000. Described as “tireless and enthusiastic” by a colleague, Pierce’s exit underscores Arizona State’s recent struggles under Edwards.
His departure follows that of offensive coordinator Zak Hill, who resigned last month amid the allegations. Other coaches, including Adam Breneman, Prentice Gill, and Chris Hawkins, have also left due to their alleged involvement. The university gave these coaches the option to resign or face termination, with Breneman choosing to resign while Gill and Hawkins were fired.
While Pierce declined to comment on his involvement in August, the impact on Arizona State’s recruiting has been evident. With Pierce linked closely to the allegations and several coaches suspended, the program’s once-promising recruiting class fell apart. Instead of announcing its 2022 class, Arizona State refrained from holding news conferences amid the controversy. The program now sits at 104th nationally and 12th in the Pac-12 in recruiting rankings, a far cry from Pierce’s earlier predictions of powerhouse recruiting.
In a letter dated Jan. 1, 2019, Vice President of Athletics Ray Anderson reminded Pierce of his obligation to fully cooperate in the NCAA infractions process. A move to the NFL may spare Arizona State from taking action against Pierce if found guilty of violating school or NCAA standards.
Pierce’s role in Arizona State’s recruiting operation has been significant, with sources indicating his involvement in the alleged violations. While initially retaining his job, Pierce’s recruiting responsibilities were curtailed prior to the early signing period in December, and he later removed references to Arizona State from his social media accounts.
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