The fresh start for Sun Devil football is much needed in many ways. On the field, the reset comes at a perfect time for the defense, which last year posted one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory.

When new ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham was assembling his staff, he targeted a man who had mad his life miserable earlier in the year to be his defensive coordinator. As Washington State’s DC last year, Brian Ward had put together an aggressive and attacking unit that ranked among the best in the conference and left a big enough impression that it landed him a new job back home in his native Arizona. Now in Tempe, Ward will look to replicate that success and make the hometown fans happy.

In this episode, Brian and I discuss returning to the Valley, his defensive philosophies, his coaching influences, spring practice goals, his brief (but undefeated) pro boxing career, Valley burritos, and much more.