Gene Chizik was named the head coach at Iowa State University earlier today. Chizik was one of the most sought after assistant coaches in the country.Gene was the Defensive Coordinator / Assistant Head Coach for the 2005 Texas national championship team. In 2004 he was given the Broyles award for being the top assistant coach in the nation. Auburn was 13-0 that season and Chizik was the Defensive Coordinator for the top scoring defense in the country.
When the search began Jamie Pollard promised to hire a coach that would excite the fan base. Mission accomplished.
Greg Geoffrey and Jamie Pollard are committed to making the Cyclone football program one of the best in the country. The hiring of Gene Chizik and the commitment to raise the assistant coaches salaries to 1.5 million is all the proof I need.
Want to know more about the new Cyclone head coach? Here you go.
Gene Chizik
Age: 44
Wife: Jonna
Children: identical twin daughters Landry and Kennedy and son Cally
Hometown: Clearwater, FL
College: Florida 1985
Graduate Degree: Clemson 1991
Years in Coaching: 20
2006: Texas (9-3) Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator
Defense: Total Defense: 291.92 (23) Pass Defense: 233.08 (100) Rush Defense: 58.83 (2) Scoring Defense: 17.83 (26)
2005: Texas (13-0) National Champions, Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator
Defense: Total Defense: 302.92 (10) Pass Defense: 172.00 (8) Rush Defense: 130.92 (33) Scoring Defense: 16.38 (8)
2004: Auburn (13-0) Defensive Coordinator / Secondary Coach, Broyles Award (Top Assistant Coach)
Defense: Total Defense: 277.62 (5) Pass Defense: 173.46 (8) Rush Defense: 104.15 (12) Scoring Defense: 11.31 (1)
2003: Auburn (8-5) Defensive Coordinator / Secondary Coach
Defense: Total Defense: 281.62 (5) Pass Defense: 189.00 (23) Rush Defense: 92.62(7) Scoring Defense: 16.31 (9)
2002: Auburn (9-4) Defensive Coordinator / Secondary Coach
Defense: Total Defense: 328.15 (26) Pass Defense: 186.46 (26) Rush Defense: 141.69 (46) Scoring Defense: 17.77 (13)
2001: Central Florida (6-5) Defensive Coordinator / Secondary Coach
Defense: Total Defense: 307.36 (16) Pass Defense: 178.00 (15) Rush Defense: 129.36 (37) Scoring Defense: 18.55 (13)
2001: Central Florida (7-4) Defensive Coordinator / Secondary Coach
Defense: Total Defense: 323.82 (28) Pass Defense: 192.91 (23) Rush Defense: 130.91 (37) Scoring Defense: 20.09 (32)
1998-1999 Central Florida, Defensive Coordinator / Secondary Coach
1996-1997 Stephen F. Austin, Defensive Coordinator
1992-1995 Stephen F. Austin, Linebackers Coach
1990-1992 Middle Tennessee State, Defensive End Coach
1988-1989 Clemson, Graduate Assistant
1986-1988 Seminole High School, Defensive Coordinator / Inside Linebackers Coach
Positives: Defensive mastermind, a rising star in the coaching ranks, recruiting ties (Texas, Florida & Big 12 country), should assemble a top-notch coaching staff, young & ambitious, familiar with Big 12, WOW factor
Negatives: No head coaching experience, offense?
“Size is definitely overrated. Speed is the great equalizer.” Gene Chizik quote
“You’ve got to stop the run, be physical and then be solid in your coverage issues. You can’t let a team that throws it 70 times a game make you into a finesse team. You have to be physical.” Gene Chizik quote
Video: Gene Chizik Presser Part I
myABC5: Gene Chizik Named Head Football Coach at ISU
Links:
Gene Chizik Bio
Gene Chizik Wikipedia
Learning the “Tampa Two” defense from Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin
Gene Chizik Rivals Profile
Gene Chizik Quotable
What a great hire. I’m elated, not only with Chizik, but with the fact that AD Pollard is doling out $1.5 million to divide up among the assitant coaches that Chizik wants to bring in. That would be the third highest dollar amount in the Big 12.