Antonio pierce arizona state flag

Antonio Pierce embraces organized chaos.

That's what his life, coming up on one of those landmark birthdays – 40 on Oct.

26 – is now and really what he's been used to for a long time.

"I played in New York City," Pierce says. "There's nothing anyone can do to me to match that pressure."

For Pierce to add recruiting coordinator to his responsibilities as Arizona State linebacker coach, all in his first year at the college level, is to him a "great honor" instead of a massive burden.

"I understand you can't be a great coach without great players," he says.

The recruiting coordinator announcement, in the works for a few months, was made last week ahead of a significant recruiting weekend (aren't they all?) and the payoff with a 16-13 upset of nationally ranked Michigan State.

Now, it's on to San Diego State, the first game in California during the Herm Edwards head-coaching era.

Outside of Arizona, it's almost