Former Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis is expected to be the new defensive coordinator at Arkansas, according to multiple reports and sources close to the situation.
Chavis, 61, was defensive coordinator for the Aggies from 2015-2017 under former head coach Kevin Sumlin. Before that he spent six seasons at LSU from 2009-2014 under former head coach Les Miles and was a part of LSU’s 2011 SEC championship team. Prior to LSU, he was the defensive coordinator at Tennessee from 1989-2008 under former head coaches Johnny Majors and Phillip Fulmer. At UT, he was on four SEC championship teams and the 1998 national championship team.
Washington State defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s name floated around after commentator Brock Huard mentioned him on Seattle radio, but aside from that the only name that has been around from the beginning was Chavis’. Any interview with an Arkansas media member with good sources yielded the name John Chavis and referenced the Huard report on Grinch without much else…probably because there wasn’t much else.
THE PRICE TAG
Prior to the formal announcement of Chad Morris as head coach, sources told HawgSports.com that Morris would have up to $1.5 million if needed to hire an elite defensive coordinator. The first name that circulated was Chavis, also known as "The Chief," due to his resume (Chad Morris said he was hiring the best defensive corodiantor in the country) and fitting that salary range.
According to USA Today through an open records request, TAMU extended Chavis through Dec. 31, 2018 in the amount of $1.6 million back on Aug. 24, 2017 when they exercised an option in his contract. The payment will be offset by his salary at Arkansas.
Chavis was obligated by his former deal to seek employment at his market value. USA Today also reports Chavis was the third highest-paid assistant in the country in 2017 at $1,608,000 behind LSU’s Dave Aranda ($1.8 million) and Clemson’s Brent Venables ($1.7 million).
Former Razorback defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, once regarded as one of the nation’s elite defensive coordinators, earned $700,000 at Arkansas last year. But in big-time college football, coordinators make big-time bucks. Last year, LSU, Texas A&M, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all paid their defensive coordinator more than Arkansas did. That’s eight of the 14 teams with five paying their coordinators over $1 million a year (and Randy Shannon at Florida making $976,000).
Details of Chavis' contract have not been officially released.
THE STRUCTURE
In Morris’ breakout interview session the day of his introduction, he said, in a matter-of-fact way, that Arkansas would be a 3-4 defense…which begs the question, how did he know they would be an odd font if he didn’t know who would be the defensive coordinator?
Chavis appears to have been the answer for some time, though Morris said a week and a half ago that he had received a lot of interest in the position. While Chavis dabbles in multiple fronts and different looks, he has always led an even front 4-3 base defense. So, he is not a 3-4 coordinator…or at least primarily he has not been one. Last year, Arkansas used a 3-4 as a base look against 21-personnel.
Chavis will tell anyone that effort wins over scheme. His goal is to get the ball back for his offense as quickly as possible. -Aside from playing with good fundamentals, technique and execution, that means swatting at the ball, playing aggressively, changing up the look and forcing the offense into mistakes (according to Chavis’ philosophies).
THE BEST
While A&M slipped defensively in 2017 by his standards as a defensive coordinator, based on his days at Tennessee and LSU, they were never a bad defense until maybe this past season. While he definitely was not the best defensive coordinator in the country last year, when considering his career he is probably in that conversation. And when he was at LSU he was generally regarded as the nation’s best defensive coordinator.
In 1989, he took over a Tennessee defense that was 70th nationally in scoring at 26.0 points per game. He dropped them to 23rd and 18.1 points per game. He had a top-10 scoring defense in four seasons at UT. In 12 of his 20 years at his alma mater, Chavis fielded a top-25 scoring defense.
Five of his six defenses at LSU were top-12 scoring defenses, including his 2011 unit that surrendered just 11.3 points per game and ranked second nationally and his 2014 bunch that ranked fourth nationally at 17.5 points per game. He took over a defense that allowed 24.2 points per game and ranked 56th nationally.
He did not have the same level of success at Texas A&M, but he took over a defense that was ranked 77th nationally and was giving up 28.1 points per game and improved them to 28th nationally at 22.0 points per game.
THE FIT
Many ‘leadership’ or ‘how to make money’ books state that it is a good idea to surround oneself with a mix of veteran experience and youthful exuberance. So while some may not think he fits in with this overall young staff, some experts would argue that he fits the puzzle (Napolean Hill’s Keys to Success – 17 Principles of Personal Achievement, as an example).
As for recruiting, it is typically considered to be a bonus when a coordinator is a great recruiter. Former coach Tommy Tuberville said at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club this past fall that a coach needs a great coordinator for the side of the ball in which they do not specialize (defense in this case) and a great offensive line coach and everybody else needs to be great recruiters as a priority. Chavis is known to play a big role in recruiting when it comes to the final play for a prospect.
THE CALDWELL
Other sources close to Chavis say to keep an eye out for Boise State defensive ends and associate head coach Steve Caldwell to join him in Fayetteville. Caldwell just resigned his position at Boise State and was part of Bobby Petrino’s Arkansas staff and helped bring in defensive end recruits like Chris Smith, Trey Flowers, Darius Philon and Deatrich Wise. They are all still in the NFL, and none of them were 4-star recruits.
THE PLAYBOOK
John Chavis’ 2002 Playbook at Tennesse: CLICK HERE (PDF)
PRIORITIES
1. To play with unbelievable effort.
2. 2. To get the best 11 players on the field.
3. Team first – doing what it takes to make the team as good as it can be.
4. Play aggressive attacking defense.
5. Take one play at a time.
6. Force turnovers.
7. Force teams in to making a mistake.
8. Be a great tackler
9. Score on defense
To accomplish the above, one must
1. Be in excellent playing condition.
2. Eliminate mistakes – daily improvement.
3. Great execution and second effort.
4. 4. Maintian poise and confidence at all times.
5. Have love and respect for your teammates – we play for one another.
THE VIDEO
Here’s a video of Chavis soon after he was extended another year for $1.6 million at Texas A&M.
THE HISTORY
The list below shows the points per game allowed by defenses coordinated by Chavis over the past 28 years in the SEC.
1988: - Tennessee was 70th at 26.0 ppg the year before he arrived
AT TENNESSEE
1989: 18.1 (23)
1990: 16.9 (19)
1991: 21.9 (52)
1992: 16.3 (18)
1993: 14.6 (8)
1994: 17.3 (17)
1995: 19.0 (26)
1996: 15.4 (9)
1997: 22.0 (42)
1998: 14.5 (8)
1999: 16.2 (8)
2000: 20.6 (29)
2001: 19.3 (20)
2002: 17.5 (11)
2003: 18.4 (17)
2004: 22.7 (39)
2005: 18.6 (15)
2006: 19.5 (33)
2007: 27.3 (62)
2008: 16.8 (10) – LSU was 56th at 24.2 ppg the year before he arrived
AT LSU
2009: 16.2 (11) - while Tennessee slipped to 37th and 22.2 ppg
2010: 18.2 (11)
2011: 11.3 (2)
2012: 17.5 (12)
2013: 22.0 (21)
2014: 17.5 (4) – Texas A&M was 77th at 28.1 ppg the year before he arrived
AT TEXAS A&M
2015: 22.0 (28) - while LSU slipped to 41st and 24.3 ppg
2016: 24.5 (39)
2017: 28.7 (81)
