John Chavis (American football) facts for kids
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 16, 1956 Dillon, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1976–1978 | Tennessee |
| Position(s) | Nose tackle |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1979 | Tennessee (GA) |
| 1980–1983 | Alabama A&M (DL) |
| 1984–1985 | Alabama State (DC) |
| 1986–1988 | Alabama A&M (DC) |
| 1989–1994 | Tennessee (DL/LB) |
| 1995–2008 | Tennessee (DC/LB) |
| 2009–2014 | LSU (DC/LB) |
| 2015–2017 | Texas A&M (DC/LB) |
| 2018–2019 | Arkansas (DC/LB) |
| 2022–2024 | Birmingham Stallions (DC/LB) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| Broyles Award (2011) | |
Johnny Chavis (born October 16, 1956), often called "the Chief," is a famous American football coach. He has coached many college football teams, helping their defenses become very strong. Most recently, he was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League. He also coached for teams like the Tennessee Volunteers, LSU Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies, and Arkansas Razorbacks.
Contents
Playing Career: John Chavis as a Player
Chavis started his football journey at the University of Tennessee. He joined the team as a "walk-on" defensive lineman. This means he wasn't offered a scholarship at first.
Early Years at Tennessee
In 1976, he played a little, making two tackles. The next year, 1977, he showed how good he was in a practice game. He even challenged a future star player for a starting spot. As a backup, he made 40 tackles and two sacks. Because of his great effort, he earned a scholarship that year.
Senior Season and College Degree
For his senior year in 1978, Chavis changed to defensive tackle. He became a starter when another player got injured. He finished that year with 32 tackles. Overall, during his time at Tennessee, he made 74 tackles and two sacks. He graduated from the College of Education in 1979.
High School Background
Chavis grew up in Dillon, South Carolina. He played high school football at Dillon High School. His coach there was Paul Chapman, who was a long-time coach.
Coaching Career: John Chavis's Journey
After his playing days, John Chavis became a highly respected football coach. He was known for building strong defenses.
Starting Out as a Coach
Chavis began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee in 1979. He then coached defensive linemen at Alabama A&M from 1980 to 1983. Later, he worked at Alabama State in 1984–85, coaching defensive linemen and coordinating the defense.
Success at Alabama A&M
Before returning to Tennessee, Chavis was the defensive coordinator at Alabama A&M. This is a historically Black university. Under his leadership, their defense was the best in the nation for Division II football. They ranked first in total defense in both 1987 and 1988.
Coaching at Tennessee: A Long Run
Chavis came back to Tennessee in 1989. He coached defensive linemen and linebackers. In 1995, he became the defensive coordinator. Under his guidance, Tennessee's defense became famous for being very tough.
National Championship and Awards
After Tennessee won the national championship in 1998, Chavis was named the best linebacker coach in the SEC. His defenses often ranked among the top in the SEC. In 1999, he was also named assistant head coach. In 2006, he received the Assistant Football Coach of the Year award from the American Football Coaches Association.
Challenging Seasons and Departure
The 2007 season was tough at first, but Tennessee still made it to the SEC Championship game. They played against LSU, who went on to win the National Championship that year. Even though Tennessee lost, LSU's coach, Les Miles, was very impressed with Chavis's defense.
Chavis's time at Tennessee ended after the 2008 season. Despite the team's struggles, his defense finished third nationally and first in the SEC in total defense that year.
LSU: Building a Top Defense
On January 5, 2009, Chavis became the defensive coordinator at LSU. His defenses there were consistently among the best in the country.
National Championship Appearance and Broyles Award
In 2011, the LSU team had an amazing undefeated regular season. They even beat Alabama in an overtime game. LSU played in the 2011 national championship game. That same year, Chavis won the Broyles Award, which honors the best assistant coach in college football. By 2013, 19 players he coached at LSU were drafted into the NFL.
Texas A&M: A New Challenge
After his time at LSU, Chavis accepted an offer to become the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M. He officially signed his contract on February 12, 2015. He coached there until the end of the 2017 season. When a new head coach, Jimbo Fisher, was hired, Chavis was not kept on the staff.
Arkansas: Another Coaching Stop
In January 2018, Chavis was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He worked under head coach Chad Morris. He left the team after the 2019 season.
Birmingham Stallions: Recent Coaching Role
In March 2022, Chavis joined the Birmingham Stallions as their defensive coordinator. He worked with head coach Skip Holtz. He left the team on May 28, 2024.
Family Life
John Chavis is married to Diane Crisp Chavis. They have two sons: C. John Chavis, born on September 29, 1980, and Jason Chavis, born on December 1, 1982.
