Like father, like son: Joe, Isaac Seumalo experience similar offseasons

5:46 PM ET

New Arizona State defensive line coach Joe Seumalo knew that this position with the Sun Devils was tailor-made for him soon after he sat down for his interview.

“Coach [Todd] Graham was going through his approach with me and what he sees defensively,” Seumalo said. “And I’m like, ‘where do I sign up? This is exactly where I need to be.'”

The former Oregon State defensive line coach, a Pac-12 fixture who spent nine years working under Mike Riley, wasn’t the only candidate for this opening at ASU. But it didn’t take long for the Sun Devils to realize they had their man.

“While I was in that room, something in my heart said, ‘I want this,'” Seumalo said. “And after we talked for a bit, coach Graham said, ‘I can see the passion in your eyes.'”

Done deal.

After a one-season stint at UNLV — Riley didn’t take Seumalo along to his new job at Nebraska — one of the Pac-12’s most respected assistants was back in the conference.

In nine seasons with the Beavers, Seumalo produced 17 all-conference recipients and three All-Americans. His defensive lines featured at least one all-conference selection in all nine years there, and the 2007 unit saw all four of its starters earn that honor.

Seumalo’s zeal for the game of football proved contagious — the Sun Devils staff told him that they saw it carry over to film in how his Oregon State defensive linemen fought and hustled at the line of scrimmage — and it ultimately earned the coach another …

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