Former Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Bennett has been hired to fill the same position at Arizona State, according to reports from FootballScoop.com and Fox Sports.
Bennett replaces Keith Patterson, who served as Arizona State's defensive coordinator since 2014. ASU finished last season second-to-last in passing defense, behind only Texas Tech. Patterson will remain on the Arizona State staff as the linebackers coach, according to Rivals.com.
Bennett served as the Baylor defensive coordinator from 2011-2016. Prior to that he was the defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh and the head coach at SMU from 2002-2007.