Gene Chizik

Gene Chizik is an American football coach and former player, widely recognized for leading the Auburn Tigers to a BCS National Championship in 2010. Off the field, Chizik is known for his strong Christian faith and commitment to leadership development.

Chizik began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Clemson University, later holding defensive coaching roles at programs such as Middle Tennessee, Stephen F. Austin, and Central Florida. He rose to prominence as the defensive coordinator at Auburn from 2002 to 2004, where he helped guide the team to an undefeated season in 2004, and later at the University of Texas, where he was part of the staff that won the 2005 national championship. Chizik became head coach at Iowa State in 2007, though his tenure there was brief and challenging, ending with a 5–19 record over two seasons. In 2009, he returned to Auburn as head coach and quickly made his mark by leading the Tigers to a perfect season and national title in 2010, fueled by the stellar play of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton. Despite this success, Chizik was dismissed in 2012 after a disappointing 3–9 season.

He later worked as a college football analyst for ESPN before returning to coaching as the defensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina in two separate stints (2015–2016 and 2022–2023).