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The former UA linebacker — who’s had little to do with the school over the past 20-plus years and even coached at archrival ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ State — is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football coaching clinic in late March. Pierce most recently served as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

He posted a 9-17 record before being fired at the end of this past season. Pierce played at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 1999 and 2000. He became disenchanted with the UA when former coach John Mackovic wouldn’t allow Pierce and others to work out on the Wildcats’ practice field ahead of the 2001 NFL Draft.

Pierce was not selected but he went on to play with Washington and the New York Giants. Pierce helped the Giants win the 2008 Super Bowl over the New England Patriots in Glendale.

After retiring in 2010, Pierce became an NFL analyst for ESPN. He also served as the head coach at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California, before becoming the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at ASU in 2018. Pierce was promoted to associate head coach and defensive coordinator before resigning in 2022 amid an at the school. Pierce received an after it was determined that he facilitated impermissible contact with recruits during the COVID pandemic. The penalty was handed down in October 2024, when Pierce was working for the Raiders.

Pierce was recruited by and played for Dick Tomey at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Tomey parted ways with the UA after the 2000 season. Mackovic succeeded him and “didn’t want departing players around the program,â€� according to a .

“That left a bad taste in my mouth for a long time,� Pierce told the website.

Current UA coach Brent Brennan served as a graduate assistant at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 2000.

The coaching clinic is slated for March 28-29 on the UA campus.