TEMPE, Ariz. — Rob Likens, a 25-year veteran of the college football coaching ranks and a former assistant coach in the Pac-12 Conference, has been named wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Arizona State University, Head Coach Todd Graham announced Tuesday. Likens replaces Jay Norvell, who became the Head Coach at the University of Nevada on December 9.
"Rob brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our staff," says Graham. "He will work with Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Chip Lindsey with the coordination of our passing game. Rob has developed a long list of wide receivers in his career, seven of which are currently in the NFL and I look forward to him working with our special group. I'm excited about his Pac-12 Conference experience at Cal and his familiarity with the league."
"Rob has an unmatched passion and enthusiasm for coaching and mentoring young men that is unparalleled," says Lindsey. "He brings an energy to our coaching staff, both on the field and in recruiting. His track record in developing receivers is very impressive. We have collaborated over the years on many occasions."
Likens was Lindsey's position coach at North Alabama in 1993.
"When I was at Cal, ASU was a school that I viewed as a place I would like to work someday," says Likens. "It's an elite program with great people, brand new facilities and its all part of a world-class university. I will have the opportunity to work with Chip, whom I believe is one of the brightest young offensive coaches in the nation. And when I met with Coach Graham and heard his vision for the program and especially for the development of young men I was completely on board. I can't wait to get there to begin recruiting and work with the players."
Likens currently has seven former players in the NFL at the wide receiver position, including Bryce Treggs (Philadelphia Eagles/California), Kenny Lawler (Seattle Seahawks/California), Chris Harper (San Francisco 49ers/California), Maurice Harris (Washington Redskins/California), Trevor Davis (Green Bay Packers/California), Quinton Patton (San Francisco 49ers/Louisiana Tech) and Myles White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Louisiana Tech).
A veteran orchestrator on the offensive side of the ball, Rob Likens joined Kansas football head coach David Beaty's staff in the role of offensive coordinator in January 2015. Likens, who has 25 years of experience of collegiate coaching to his credit, has served as the offensive coordinator at five different schools prior to arriving in Tempe.
Likens went to KU in 2015 after completing his second season as the assistant head coach and outside receivers coach at the University of California with Sonny Dykes in 2014, and his first with the additional responsibilities of passing game coordinator.
In 2014, Likens' Cal passing game, led by the 2016 NFL Draft No. 1 pick Jared Goff, ranked sixth in the NCAA in passing yards with 346.0 yards through the air per outing on its way to rewriting the Golden Bear single-season passing yardage record in 2014 with 4,152 yards. Additionally, three of his top four receivers were Biletnikoff Award candidates in Chris Harper, Kenny Lawler and Bryce Treggs.
Cal's passing game during Likens' first season with the Golden Bears in 2013 set single-season school records for passing yardage (3,977), pass completions (368) and pass attempts (622), while also establishing new single-game marks during the campaign for passing yardage (521 vs. Washington State) and pass attempts (65 vs. Northwestern).
Treggs' 77 receptions in 2013 ranked fourth on the school's all-time list while Harper's 70 were seventh to give the duo 147 combined catches and make the duo the second-most productive single-season pass catchers in school history behind only the 160 recorded by current NFL players Keenan Allen (98) and Marvin Jones (62) in 2011.
Prior to his arrival in Berkeley, Likens served as an assistant head coach and wide receivers coach at Louisiana Tech from 2010-12, including a final campaign in Ruston in which Louisiana Tech posted a 9-3 record and led the nation in scoring offense and total offense by averaging 51.50 points and 577.92 yards of total offense per game.
"Rob brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our staff," says Graham. "He will work with Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Chip Lindsey with the coordination of our passing game. Rob has developed a long list of wide receivers in his career, seven of which are currently in the NFL and I look forward to him working with our special group. I'm excited about his Pac-12 Conference experience at Cal and his familiarity with the league."
"Rob has an unmatched passion and enthusiasm for coaching and mentoring young men that is unparalleled," says Lindsey. "He brings an energy to our coaching staff, both on the field and in recruiting. His track record in developing receivers is very impressive. We have collaborated over the years on many occasions."
Likens was Lindsey's position coach at North Alabama in 1993.
"When I was at Cal, ASU was a school that I viewed as a place I would like to work someday," says Likens. "It's an elite program with great people, brand new facilities and its all part of a world-class university. I will have the opportunity to work with Chip, whom I believe is one of the brightest young offensive coaches in the nation. And when I met with Coach Graham and heard his vision for the program and especially for the development of young men I was completely on board. I can't wait to get there to begin recruiting and work with the players."
Likens currently has seven former players in the NFL at the wide receiver position, including Bryce Treggs (Philadelphia Eagles/California), Kenny Lawler (Seattle Seahawks/California), Chris Harper (San Francisco 49ers/California), Maurice Harris (Washington Redskins/California), Trevor Davis (Green Bay Packers/California), Quinton Patton (San Francisco 49ers/Louisiana Tech) and Myles White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Louisiana Tech).
A veteran orchestrator on the offensive side of the ball, Rob Likens joined Kansas football head coach David Beaty's staff in the role of offensive coordinator in January 2015. Likens, who has 25 years of experience of collegiate coaching to his credit, has served as the offensive coordinator at five different schools prior to arriving in Tempe.
Likens went to KU in 2015 after completing his second season as the assistant head coach and outside receivers coach at the University of California with Sonny Dykes in 2014, and his first with the additional responsibilities of passing game coordinator.
In 2014, Likens' Cal passing game, led by the 2016 NFL Draft No. 1 pick Jared Goff, ranked sixth in the NCAA in passing yards with 346.0 yards through the air per outing on its way to rewriting the Golden Bear single-season passing yardage record in 2014 with 4,152 yards. Additionally, three of his top four receivers were Biletnikoff Award candidates in Chris Harper, Kenny Lawler and Bryce Treggs.
Cal's passing game during Likens' first season with the Golden Bears in 2013 set single-season school records for passing yardage (3,977), pass completions (368) and pass attempts (622), while also establishing new single-game marks during the campaign for passing yardage (521 vs. Washington State) and pass attempts (65 vs. Northwestern).
Treggs' 77 receptions in 2013 ranked fourth on the school's all-time list while Harper's 70 were seventh to give the duo 147 combined catches and make the duo the second-most productive single-season pass catchers in school history behind only the 160 recorded by current NFL players Keenan Allen (98) and Marvin Jones (62) in 2011.
Prior to his arrival in Berkeley, Likens served as an assistant head coach and wide receivers coach at Louisiana Tech from 2010-12, including a final campaign in Ruston in which Louisiana Tech posted a 9-3 record and led the nation in scoring offense and total offense by averaging 51.50 points and 577.92 yards of total offense per game.
