The UNC football program is selecting former Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins to be the team’s next defensive coordinator. The Tar Heels announced Gene Chizik, the team’s previous coordinator, would not return on January 3.

“My family and I want to thank Coach Brown and the staff at UNC for presenting us with this opportunity,” Collins said in a statement. “I’ve long admired Carolina and know what a truly special place it is. I feel honored and am very excited to get to work with the high-quality student-athletes in Chapel Hill.”

Collins coached the Yellow Jackets for four years, never winning more than three games in a season, and was fired midway through the 2022 campaign. Collins had a 1-1 record against UNC in that time span. Before arriving in Atlanta, Collins coached two seasons at Temple, leading the Owls to consecutive bowl appearances in 2017 and 2018.

Collins has seen considerable success as a defensive coordinator, spending time at Florida International, Mississippi State and Florida between 2010 and 2016. With FIU, Collins’ defense ranked first in the Sun Belt in total yardage, scoring and turnover margin. At Mississippi State, the Bulldogs finished in the SEC’s top five in total defense in 2013, then led the league in sacks and red zone defense in 2014. That season saw Mississippi State ascend as high as No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings and finish 10-3.

With Florida, Collins’ defense ranked in the country’s top 11 in scoring defense in 2015 and 2016. The Gators did not allow a touchdown against three Power 5 teams on the road in the same season in 2015, becoming just the seventh team in the previous 20 seasons to do so.

“Geoff is brilliant defensive mind, who has been successful at a number of different locations as both a head coach and a coordinator,” said UNC head coach Mack Brown. “His experience shows that he knows what it takes to lead the men in our program, and he’ll utilize that experience for the benefit of our defense.

“We were blown away when we interviewed Geoff,” Brown added. “He was unbelievably prepared. He had watched all of our games, knew our personnel, and pinpointed the items he’d implement to improve our players and the defensive unit as a whole. I can’t wait to get Geoff and his family to Chapel Hill and get to work.”

“I’m ready for this challenge,” Collins said. “I’m excited for this challenge, and I can’t wait to get to Chapel Hill and get started.”

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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