Gene Chizik
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Tarpon Springs, Florida, U.S. | December 28, 1961
Playing career | |
1981 | Florida |
Position(s) | GA/OLB) |
1990–1991 | Middle Tennessee (DE) |
1992–1994 | Stephen F. Austin (LB) |
1995 | Stephen F. Austin (DB) |
1996–1997 | Stephen F. Austin (DC/DB) |
1998 | UCF (DC/LB) |
1999–2001 | UCF (DC/DB) |
2002–2004 | Auburn (DC/DB) |
2005–2006 | Texas (co-DC/AHC/LB) |
2007–2008 | Iowa State |
2009–2012 | Auburn |
2015–2016 | North Carolina (DC) |
2022–2023 | North Carolina (AHC/DC) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 38–38 |
Bowls | 3–0 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1 Home Depot Coach of the Year (2010) (2010)Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award (2010) Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2010) Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award (2010) SEC Coach of the Year | |
Eugene C. Chizik Jr.[1] (born December 28, 1961) is an American football coach who was most recently the defensive coordinator and Assistant Head Coach for Defense at North Carolina.[2][3] A veteran of the coaching ranks, Chizik previously was UNC's defensive coordinator for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, and served as the head coach of the Auburn football team from 2009 until the end of the 2012 season.[4] Chizik's 2010 Auburn Tigers football team completed a 14–0 season with a victory over Oregon in the BCS National Championship Game, and quarterback Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy. Chizik played college football at the University of Florida in 1981 for head coach Charley Pell.[5]
Early life
Chizik was born in Florida. Chizik earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Florida in 1986, and received a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Clemson University in 1991.[6]
Coaching career
Early years
Chizik began his coaching career at Seminole High School, serving as their defensive coordinator and inside linebacker coach from 1986 to 1988. He then became a graduate assistant at Clemson from 1988 to 1989, working with the outside linebackers. During his time at Clemson he coached in the 1988 Citrus Bowl and the 1989 Gator Bowl, under secondary coach Bill Oliver.[7]
His initial full-time coaching job was as the
While at UCF in Orlando, Chizik frequently visited practice sessions of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers studying the team's defensive scheme developed by then-Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and linebackers coach Lovie Smith.[8]
Chizik later employed a very similar scheme at
In 2005, Chizik was hired by
Iowa State
In November 2006, Chizik was hired to replace outgoing coach Dan McCarney as head football coach of Iowa State. McCarney resigned after going 4–8 in his final season, despite five bowl appearances during his tenure, the most of any Iowa State coach at that time. Chizik's contract with ISU was a six-year deal worth a guaranteed $6.75 million. With incentives, the total had the potential to be more than $10 million.[12] In Chizik's first season, Iowa State finished 3–9, including a 15–13 upset victory over Iowa, and back-to-back wins against Kansas State and Colorado. The Cyclones also experienced a notable improvement on defense. In the year prior to Chizik's arrival, Iowa State was ranked 102nd nationally in total defense[13] and in Chizik's first year, they improved to 65th.[14]
In 2008, Iowa State won their first two games against South Dakota State and Kent State before losing their final 10 games to finish the season 2–10. Among all 119
Auburn
On December 13, 2008, Auburn University hired Chizik to succeed former head coach
Chizik first retained James Willis to continue coaching linebackers. However, less than one month later, Willis left Auburn to coach for the University of Alabama. Ted Roof eventually replaced Willis and served as Auburn's linebacker coach and defensive coordinator. Roof had previously been the defensive coordinator at Minnesota before coming to Auburn. Chizik hired Gus Malzahn as his offensive coordinator. Malzahn enjoyed the nation's top offense at Tulsa the previous two seasons. He subsequently hired Curtis Luper and Trooper Taylor, both of whom were coaching at Oklahoma State, to coach running backs and wide receivers. Chizik also brought Jay Boulware from his ISU staff to be the special teams coordinator and hired former Auburn player Tracy Rocker away from Arkansas to coach the defensive line. The final hire was UNC linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen as safeties coach.
Chizik's incentive-laden contract at Auburn was for five years with a salary of approximately
In his first year, Chizik led the Tigers to the
Chizik was released after four seasons, and Auburn bought out his contract for $11.09 million. Chizik received $7.5 million based on his December 1 contractual buyout amount and assistant coaches received the remainder. [27]
Overall, Auburn went 33–19 during Chizik's tenure as head football coach. His only winning record in conference play was the 2010 national championship season.
North Carolina
Chizik was named defensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on January 19, 2015.[28] He inherited a unit that had given up 497 yards per game in 2014; only three other teams in Power 5 conferences had surrendered more yards per game. The 2014 team ranked 120th nationally in overall defense. Through 11 games, Chizik's defense had surrendered 384 yards per game, a major factor in the Tar Heels going on a school record eleven-game winning streak and earning their 1st ACC Coastal Division championship.[29] Chizik's 2015 and 2016 defense units ranked 96th and 63rd nationally, respectively. Chizik resigned in February 2017.[30]
Return to North Carolina
After a multi-year hiatus from coaching, Chizik returned to Chapel Hill and was named assistant head coach for defense, following the departure of defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. He replaced Bateman on January 8, 2022.[31] Chizik serves as the de facto defensive coordinator, with the defense utilizing his preferred scheme, despite Charlton Warren and Tommy Thigpen having co-coordinator titles. His 2022 Tar Heel defense finished close to the bottom of the FBS in many statistical categories, ranking 102nd out of 131 teams in total defense.[32] Most notably, in an early-season game against Appalachian State, Chizik's defense allowed forty points and 338 total yards of offense in the fourth quarter alone, though the Tar Heels would hang on to win 63–61.[33] After the 2023 season, UNC Head Coach Mack Brown announced that Chizik would not return for the 2024 season.[34]
Media career
Following his termination from Auburn, Chizik did media work related to football, including ESPNU coverage of National Signing Day and hosting a weekly football radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio in 2013.[35] In 2014, he joined the SEC Network as a studio analyst.[36] Following his resignation from North Carolina after the 2016 season, he rejoined the SEC Network as an analyst.[37][38] He stepped down from the SEC Network upon his return to North Carolina in 2022.
Personal life
Chizik is married to Joanna Chizik, the daughter of his high school football coach. They have identical twin daughters named Landry and Kennedy and a son Eugene Calloway, or "Cally".
Honors
- Broyles Award (2004)
- SEC Coach of the Year (AP) (2010)
- Home Depot Coach of the Year Award(2010)
- Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award (2010)
- Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2010)
- Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award (2010)
- Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award (2011)[40]
Head coaching record
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12 Conference) (2007–2008) | |||||||||
2007 | Iowa State | 3–9 | 2–6 | T–5th (North) | |||||
2008 | Iowa State | 2–10 | 0–8 | 6th (North) | |||||
Iowa State: | 5–19 | 2–14 | |||||||
Auburn Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2009–2012) | |||||||||
2009 | Auburn | 8–5 | 3–5 | T–4th (Western) | W Outback | ||||
2010 | Auburn | 14–0 | 8–0 | 1st (Western) | W BCS NCG† | 1 | 1 | ||
2011 | Auburn | 8–5 | 4–4 | 4th (Western) | W Chick-fil-A | ||||
2012 | Auburn | 3–9 | 0–8 | 7th (Western) | |||||
Auburn: | 33–19 | 15–17 | |||||||
Total: | 38–38 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
|
Notes
^ In 2022, Chizik's official title was Assistant Head Coach for Defense
References
- ^ Cosdon, Christina K. (May 21, 2002). "Longtime Largo High principal dies at 80". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on August 17, 2002. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- ^ "Carolina Football Adds Chizik, Warren To Defensive Staff". GoHeels.com. January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea. "Gene Chizik won't return as North Carolina defensive coordinator". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Gene Chizik Named Auburn Head Football Coach". Auburn University. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- ^ "Gene Chizik biographical information" (PDF). Auburn University Athletic Media Relations. December 13, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
- ^ a b c "The Gene Chizik File". Archived from the original on February 4, 2009.
- ^ 'The right guy:' Former coaches, players say Chizik is up to the challenge at Auburn Archived October 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. al.com (December 16, 2008). Retrieved on 2012-11-25.
- ^ Brown, Chip (August 28, 2005). Defensive pursuit: Chizik getting UT's defense up to speed. Dallas News
- ^ "Time will tell if Auburn made the right choice". Archived from the original on August 9, 2011.
- ^ 2012 NCAA College Football Polls and Rankings for Week 14 – ESPN. Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved on November 25, 2012.
- ^ Killian, Ryan (November 28, 2006). "Longhorns lose defensive coordinator". The Daily Texan. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2007.
- ^ "Gene Chizik Named ISU Football Coach". Cyclones.com. November 27, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2006.
- ^ "2006 FBS National Team Rank – Total Defense". NCAA. January 7, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ "2007 FBS National Team Rank – Total Defense". NCAA. January 7, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ FANS SURPRISED » Top Sports » CullmanTimes.com – Cullman, Alabama. CullmanTimes.com. Retrieved on November 25, 2012.
- ^ Real Insight. Real Fans. Real Conversations Archived December 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Sporting News. Retrieved on November 25, 2012.
- ^ Beaton, Kelly (November 28, 2008). "Cyclones hope growth pains over". Wcfcourier.com. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
- ^ Dienhart, Tom (December 13, 2008). Iowa State's Chizik to take over at Auburn Archived December 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. collegefootball.rivals.com
- ^ "Auburn announces Chizik as head coach". AuburnSports.com. December 13, 2008.
- ^ Chizik's Response On Taking Auburn Job | KCCI Home – KCCI Home Archived March 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Kcci.com (December 14, 2008). Retrieved on 2012-11-25.
- ^ Tate, Jay. "We have contracts". The Hottest Auburn Blog on The Net. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
- Sporting News. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
- Birmingham News. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- ^ Novy-Williams, Eben; Eichelberger, Curtis (January 11, 2011). "Auburn Football Coach Gene Chizik Earns $600,000 Bonus With National Title". Bloomberg.
- ^ Badenhausen, Kurt (January 11, 2011). "Auburn And Coach Gene Chizik Set To Break The Bank With BCS Title". Forbes.
- ^ "Gene Chizik Is Worst Coach to Ever Win National Championship, Says Paul Finebaum". bleacherreport.com.
- AL.com. November 25, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
- ^ "Gene Chizik named Defensive Coordinator". GoHeels. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ^ "NCAA National Rankings". NCAA.org. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ^ "Gene Chizik steps down as UNC defensive coordinator". February 10, 2017.
- ^ Barnes, Greg (January 8, 2022). "BREAKING: Gene Chizik, Charlton Warren Returning to Lead UNC Defense". InsideCarolina. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ "2022 College Football Team Defense". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "Tar Heels Outlast App State, 63-61". GoHeels.com. UNC Athletics. September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Adelson, Andrea. "Gene Chizik won't return as North Carolina defensive coordinator". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Chizik gets a radio show". July 16, 2013.
- ^ "Former Auburn coach Gene Chizik to join SEC Network". USA Today.
- ^ "Ex-Auburn coach Gene Chizik loving life doing dad things".
- ^ "Gene Chizik back on the SEC Network this season". August 2, 2017.
- ^ Schmitz, Brian. (August 15, 2000) Ucf Defensive Coordinator Names Son In Remembrance Of Beloved Former Player – Orlando Sentinel. Articles.orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved on 2012-11-25.
- ^ "Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award". ASAMA – The American Sport Art Museum and Archives. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2012.