North Carolina will be searching for a new defensive coordinator, as Gene Chizik is stepping away from the program
North Carolina defensive coordinator Gene Chizik will be stepping down as the defensive coordinator of the Tar Heels, FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman is reporting. Chizik has been manning the defense in Chapel Hill for the past two seasons, joining the program prior to the 2015 season.
As for the reasoning that Chizik is stepping down after just two seasons for the Tar Heels, he’s citing the need to spend more time with his family in Auburn, Alabama.
“I have made the personal decision to step away from football to focus on my family,” Chizik said via FootballScoop.com.
Here is Gene Chizik's full statement regarding his decision to step down today: pic.twitter.com/oOfKSKKjbv
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 9, 2017
While his latest position was as the defensive coordinator for North Carolina, Chizik is best remembered for his time with the Auburn Tigers from 2009-2012. In just his second season as the head coach of Auburn, he led the Tigers to the National Championship, a team that of course was led by none other than Cam Newton. Things were looking up for Chizik and the Tigers program at that point, however, they dropped to 8-5 the following season and 3-9 in 2012, which ultimately provoked Auburn to move on from him just a few years after capturing that aforementioned title.
Prior to his time at Auburn, he was the head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones in 2007 and 2008, compiling an uninspiring record of 5-19 overall, leading many to wonder how he landed the Auburn job in the first place.
So before spring football gets set to take place here before we know it, the Tar Heels will be on the lookout for a new leader for the defensive side of the ball.