As a wide receivers coach at Cal, Rob Likens was naturally familiar with the Sun Devils during game preparation weeks. Yet, there was another avenue that allowed Likens to learn more about the program and ultimately that became a significant factor in his hiring as Arizona State’s new wide receivers coach replacing Jay Norvell who was hired as Nevada’s head coach.
“Cal and Arizona State were both on ‘The Drive’ TV show,” Likens said regarding the Pac-12 Networks’ show in 2013. “Everytime we were watching the show waiting for our portion to come up, we watched Arizona State (segment). What caught my eye was that they won the Pac-12 South that year and just watching the relationships that the players and coaches had. I was thinking how cool it would be to work there one day for coach Graham.”
Likens is also very familiar with the Sun Devils’ offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey, as he was Lindsey’s position coach at North Alabama in 1993.
"Rob has an unmatched passion and enthusiasm for coaching and mentoring young men that is unparalleled," Lindsey said in ASU’s press release on this hire. "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 said that sharing the same philosophy as Lindsey was an aspect that certainly created a sense of comfortability when it came to the prospects of working together.
“He called me and talked about this opportunity,” Likens stated. “I think he is one of the brightest young minds in college football and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work side by side with him.
“We’ve shared the same offensive philosophy for some time. We really come from the same tree and one of the toughest things as an offensive coordinator is to coach the coaches. You can spend a lot of time getting your coaches understand your philosophy, especially if they came from different programs. Chip doesn’t have to go through that process. We don’t have to spend that much time figuring out what he wants to get done because I already know what he is thinking and how he wants things done. We can spend time now developing our players.”
The offensive philosophy both Likens and Lindsey share is the Air Raid, Likens has learned from coaches such Hal Mumme, Mike Leach and Sonny Dykes who popularized this scheme although each of those coaches eventually branched off and put their own stamp on the schematics at their respective coaching stops.
“Me and Chip are very similar in the way we think,” Likens said.
Many notable wideouts who currently play in the NFL have come under the tutelage of ASU’s new wide receivers coach. At Louisiana Tech he recruited and coached Quinton Patton (San Francisco 49ers) and Myles White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). In his first year at Cal, he inherited a group of six freshmen wide receivers among them Bryce Treggs (Philadelphia Eagles), Kenny Lawler (Seattle Seahawks), Chris Harper (San Francisco 49ers), and Maurice Harris (Washington Redskins).
“2013-14 were not the best years record wise for Cal,” said GoldenBearReport.com Trace Travers, “but the wide receivers were really the best part of the team and some of them are in the NFL now. Those players were productive while he was here. Likens is a personable guy, very talkative and energized.”
Those personality traits were echoed by JayHwakSlant.com Publisher Jon Kirby, who got to know Likens during the last two seasons at Kansas.
“Rob is awesome and I got to chance to work with him and know him,” Kirby said. “Not only do I say that but you can go throughout the football staff and they would all tell you the same thing. He recruited the West Coast which he’s familiar with and Kansas didn’t get a lot of players from there. But if you’re asking me would he be a good recruiter? I think so. He’s very likable and he’s a hard recruiter. I can see him being well received by recruits and their parents.”
Likens said that while on the recruiting trail he seeks out wide receivers that aren’t only talented and of high character, but also ones who don’t shy away from competition.
“Kids will ask you how may wide receivers do you have on your roster,” Likens explained. “Sometimes that’s a red flag because it shows that they want it easy. They want to come in and be given a spot and not fight for it first. I want a guy that jumps in there and doesn’t care who’s there (on the depth chart) and goes ahead and takes a job.
“I also want a player who’s a leader and cares about his teammates and leading them. That’s another quality I look for.”
As someone who’s familiar with the talent level of both Pac-12 wide receivers and defensive backs, Likens identified specific skills that in his opinion are vital for players in his position group to be successful in a conference that is known for explosive passing offenses.
“Whether you play in this league of the NFL,” Likens remarked, “you have to be able to get off of press coverage. Especially if you will play on the line of scrimmage as an outside receiver. So you have to have great lateral movement and quick suddenness in everything you do. You can build strength, but you would like your guys to have some core strength once they come into the program.
“The height doesn’t matter. There are track guys out there playing football and then you have a football player. I don’t know how you explain that but it’s something you can see right away. I can see that in practice in one-on-ones. You see players competing for the ball, understanding how to position between the defensive back and the ball. That’s why I like to see guys perform live before I make decisions on them.”
As a newly hired coach, there are quite a few items on Likens’ to-do list, but the priority item in his mind isn’t up for debate.
“I’m going to start recruiting immediately,” Likens said. “Coach Graham and Chip will help direct me on some of the targets and that’s really the only thing on my mind. After signing day hits we’ll get the family out there.”
