CCJ lecturer selected as guest football coach

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice lecturer Claudine DeCarolis (far right) and Dana Newell, College of Public Programs assistant dean of students, didn't have seats for last week's Sun Devils football game versus UCLA. They didn't need them. They had sideline passes. They were nominated by a student athlete to be a "guest coach" for the 2014 football season. The goal is to foster better relationships between ASU faculty and staff and the ASU athletic department. 

"It was a great night. I was honored to have been nominated to be a faculty guest coach," says DeCarolis who teaches introductory courses to criminology and criminal justice and classes on gender, crime and criminal justice and race, ethnicity and justice. 

DeCarolis and Newell were escorted by academic coaches who help make sure student athletes are on top of their studies. Last year, the NCCA reported that ASU student athletes had an all-time high graduation rate of 82-percent, fourth in the Pac-12, for students who entered as freshmen from 2003 to 2006. The duo also received a tour of Sun Devil stadium and tailgated with music provided by the Sun Devil Marching Band.

The two also got to speak to former ASU athletes while roaming the sidelines during the televised game with PAC-12 South rival UCLA. One of those was Brock Osweiler who was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice has a number of students who play football, including lineback Salamo Fiso, defensive back Jordan Simone, running back Deantre Lewis and tackle Evan Goodman.  Starting left tackle Jamil Douglas, who graduated in December 2013, is an alumnus of the School. Another CCJ alum, Carl Bradford, was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.