• Published: Jan 6, 2009 - UPDATED: 6:27 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

A look at John Chavis, who was named the new LSU defensive coordinator Monday. A native of Dillon, S.C., Chavis is of Cherokee Indian descent and is the only Native American in a coordinator position in the Football Bowl Subdivision or NFL.

AGE: 52 (Oct. 16, 1956)

FAMILY: Wife, Diane Crisp Chavis; sons John Chavis (28) and Jason Chavis (26)

EDUCATION: Dillon (S.C.) High School, University of Tennessee (1979)

PLAYING CAREER: Middle guard at Tennessee (1974-78)

COACHING CAREER: Tennessee 1979 (graduate assistant), Alabama A&M 1980-83, Alabama State 1984-85, Alabama A&M 1986-88, Tennessee 1989-2008 (defensive coordinator 1995-2008), LSU 2008-present

RECORD: Tennessee was 186-62-2 after Chavis returned in 1989. The Volunteers went to 18 bowl games (10-8) in that span and won the 1998 BCS National Championship with a 23-16 triumph against Florida State in the 1999 Orange Bowl.

• In 14 years as UT’s defensive coordinator, the Volunteers ranked among the top four in the SEC in total defense 10 times.

• Since 1995 when Chavis arose to the coordinator job, Tennessee won 10 games or more eight times during that span. The Vols won a school-record 13 games on the way to capturing the 1998 national title. 

• Tennessee appeared in the SEC Championship Game five times during Chavis’ tenure, winning league titles in 1997 and 1998.

• Since 1995, only Florida has led the SEC in rushing defense more times (4) than Tennessee (3).

• Last season despite a 5-7 mark, the Vols defense ranked No. 2 in the SEC and No. 3 in the nation in total defense, allowing 263.5 yards per game. UT was also No. 2 in the league and No. 4 in the nation in pass defense with 160.4 yards per contest.

• Chavis was named the American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year in 2006.