Gene Chizik reflects on first days back at North Carolina
Gene Chizik is back in Chapel Hill. Last week, North Carolina hired Chizik as the Tar Heels’ co-defensive coordinator alongside Charlton Warren. Chizik was North Carolina’s defensive coordinator in 2015-2016. He resigned in 2017.
On Friday night, Chizik tweeted a message reflecting on his return to Chapel Hill.
“Been back for 2 days,” Chizik said. “Feels like home. I’m Gene Chizik and I’m a Tar Heel!”
In addition to his time previously working at North Carolina, Chizik has extensive experience across the nation. He began his coaching career in the high school ranks from 1986-1987 before becoming a GA and outside linebackers coach at Clemson in 1988-1989. He also had stops at Middle Tennessee, and also coached at Stephen F. Austin, getting his first shot as a defensive coordinator in 1996-1997.
UCF hired Chizik as defensive coordinator in 1998, and he held that position through 2001. He then left for Auburn, from 2002-2004 before spending a year at Texas from 2005-2006. In November of 2006, Iowa State hired Chizik as the Cyclones’ next head coach. Despite a 5-19 record in two seasons at Iowa State, Auburn hired Chizik in December of 2008 to replace Tommy Tuberville as head coach. In four years at Auburn, Chizik went 33-19, including a 14-0, national championship winning season in 2010.
After Auburn went 3-9 in 2012, the Tigers moved on from Chizik. He then took a hiatus from coaching, doing work in the media for a few years. In 2015, Chizik began his first stint at North Carolina as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Chizik returns to North Carolina over USFL interest
Prior to being hired by North Carolina, Chizik reportedly had interest as a possible head coach in the USFL. The Birmingham Stallions were reportedly interested in Chizik as their head coach.
Instead of making the leap to the USFL, Chizik instead returns to a familiar place in Chapel Hill, where he will lead the Tar Heels’ defense.
North Carolina head coach Mack Brown is excited to welcome Chizik back to Chapel Hill, and believes that his experience will prove to be valuable for UNC next season.
“We’re excited to welcome Gene, his wife Jonna, and their three children, Landry Grace, Kennedy Danielle and Cally, back to the Carolina football family,” Brown said in a press release. “Gene is one of college football’s great defensive minds and we’re excited that he’s returning to lead our unit. He’s spent the last five years in the media studying college football, so like me, he’s had a chance to look at a number of different schemes, while staying on top of how the game has evolved over the last few years.”