Jim Chaney Named Offensive Coordinator; Report: Pittman Joining Hogs, too

UPDATE: WBIR in Knoxville is reporting that Sam Pittman, former offensive line coach for the Tennessee Volunteers, has been hired to the Razorbacks football staff. Information from the University of Tennessee regarding Pittman is below.

FAYETTEVILLE – Jim Chaney, who boasts experience in the NFL, SEC and Big Ten, has been named Arkansas offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, head coach Bret Bielema announced Wednesday.

“Jim Chaney’s approach will blend well with my ideas as we work to put together a plan for the team we have and over time develop our specific philosophy,” said Bielema. “While he was at Purdue, several of the best coaches in the nation sought his advice on how to use the spread offense. Jim went on to spend a few years in the NFL and gained a new appreciation for a pro-style offense similar to the balanced attack we will look to incorporate at Arkansas. He has spent his career developing numerous players for the NFL including Drew Brees. He knows the SEC, having coached at Tennessee, and is familiar with what it takes to be successful in this conference. He is an upbeat and positive person who has proven at every stop he is an elite coach in our profession.”

Chaney spent the last four seasons at Tennessee as the Vols’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and was the interim coach for UT’s 37-17 win against Kentucky in the 2012 season finale. Prior to his time in Knoxville, he coached the St. Louis Rams for three seasons after nine years as offensive coordinator at Purdue. Chaney also has held recruiting coordinator duties at three different schools.

Chaney oversaw the development of UT quarterback Tyler Bray, who was named the Vols’ starter as a true freshman. After playing in 28 career games, Bray moved into the top five in many of the school’s passing categories, ranking fourth in passing touchdowns, fourth in passing yards, fourth in pass attempts and fifth in completions.

In 2012, Bray passed for 3,619 yards and 34 touchdowns. His touchdowns were the seventh-most in a season in SEC history, and his passing yards ranked 11th in conference history. Bray also broke the Tennessee single-game record with 530 yards passing, a record previously held by Peyton Manning and the second-highest single-game total in SEC history.

Also during the 2012 season, wide receiver Justin Hunter ranked third in the SEC with 1,083 receiving yards and was fourth in the conference with an average of 6.1 receptions per game. His 73 catches ranked as the second-highest single-season total in UT history, and his receiving yards ranked third on the school’s single-season list. As a team, Tennessee led the SEC and was fourth in the NCAA allowing an average of 0.67 sacks per game. The Vols also ranked 16th in the country in passing offense, 19th in total offense, 23rd in scoring offense and 33rd in passing efficiency.

In 2011, Tennessee scored at least 40 points in three of their first four games and ended the season third in the SEC in passing offense and fewest sacks allowed. Wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers led the SEC in receptions with 67 and was second in the conference with 1,040 receiving yards on his way to earning first-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press.

The 2010 offense produced 71 plays of 20-or-more yards, 19 which went for touchdowns, despite fielding a new quarterback, new starting running back and an overhauled offensive line. Hunter set the Tennessee freshman record with seven receiving touchdowns and averaged a team-high 25.9 yards per catch as he earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Bray broke Tennessee freshman records with 1,849 passing yards, 125 completions and 18 passing touchdowns and became the first UT quarterback to throw multiple touchdowns in six straight games since Manning. Running back Tauren Poole also excelled, rushing for 1,034 yards in his first season as the starter.

Before his time at Tennessee, Chaney spent three seasons with the St. Louis Rams. He coached the offensive line two seasons and worked with the tight ends in 2008. Chaney’s offensive line blocked for running back Steven Jackson, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards all three seasons Chaney was in St. Louis.

Chaney made the move to professional football after nine years as Purdue’s offensive coordinator. In his first four seasons, he also was the Boilermakers’ recruiting coordinator and helped break a 13-year bowl drought in his first season. In his time there, Purdue led the Big Ten in passing offense five times and passing offense three times. The Boilermakers were ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA in total offense six times, including in 2000 when they were fourth in the country.

While at Purdue, Chaney tutored quarterback Drew Brees, who was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and was named Super Bowl XLIV MVP and the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009. Brees led the NCAA in total offense in 2000, averaging 349.1 yards per game, and won the Maxwell Award. Chaney also helped direct Tim Stratton to the inaugural John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s best tight end, in 2000. The 2000 team also won the Big Ten and advanced to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 33 years.

As recruiting coordinator, Chaney helped Purdue sign some of the country’s top high school talent. The 1998 class ranked second in the Big Ten and 11th nationally, and each of his final five signing classes were in the top 30 in the nation.

Before Purdue, Chaney was at Wyoming for four years, serving as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator from 1994-96 and was a graduate assistant coaching tight ends coach in 1993. Chaney began his coaching career at Cal State Fullerton in 1985. He served in many areas, including offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator.

A native of Holden, Mo., Chaney earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Central Missouri State in 1985. He played nose guard for Central Missouri State and was named an all-conference performer as a senior.

Chaney and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters, Elizabeth and Sara.

Jim Chaney Coaching History

Birthdate: Jan. 12, 1962
Home Town: Holden, Mo.
Family: Wife, Lisa; Daughters, Elizabeth and Sara
Bowl Games: Music City Bowl, 2010; Chick-fil-A Bowl, 2009; Sun Bowl, 2004; Capital One Bowl, 2004; Sun Bowl, 2002; Sun Bowl, 2001; Rose Bowl, 2001; Outback Bowl, 2000; Alamo Bowl, 1998; Alamo Bowl, 1997; Copper Bowl, 1993

Courtesy University of Tennessee Department of Athletics

Sam Pittman

University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley announced Sam Pittman as offensive line coach on Jan. 12, 2012. Pittman, who has spent the last five years at the University of North Carolina staff from 2007-11 in charge of the offensive line, was named associate head coach before the 2011 season.

“Sam has an excellent reputation and track record as an offensive line coach and as a recruiter,” said Dooley. “Sam brings a considerable amount to our program as a coach and a person, and we are excited that he is joining our staff.”

Pittman fills the position on the Tennessee staff formerly held by Harry Hiestand, who resigned to pursue other coaching opportunities.

The 2011 North Carolina team averaged 6.3 yards per play in the regular season, the second-best mark in the ACC. The UNC offensive line helped redshirt freshman running back Giovani Bernard to 101.8 yards per game, a mark that led all NCAA freshmen and included seven 100-yard rushing games. Bernard’s 14 rushing touchdowns ranked second nationally among freshmen.

Additionally, sophomore quarterback Bryn Renner led the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing efficiency, a category in which UNC led the conference as a team as well. The Tar Heels ranked fifth in the ACC in total offense at 396.6 while earning a berth in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl.

Named one of the nation’s top 25 recruiters by ESPN.COM, Pittman has signed the No. 2-rated offensive tackle in each of the last two years, Alex Hurst in 2010 and Kiaro Holt in 2011. Hurst, who started all 12 games at left tackle for UNC as a sophomore during the 2011 season, joined teammate and left guard Jonathan Cooper as the first Tar Heel tandem to earn All-ACC lineman honors since 1993.

Pittman also worked to develop offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds, who earned second team All-ACC honors in 2008 and was selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.

Pittman joined the Tar Heels after four seasons as the offensive line coach at Northern Illinois from 2003-06, including three seasons as assistant head coach from 2004-06. During that time frame, the Huskies produced a pair of standout rushers in Garrett Wolfe and Michael Turner. Wolfe led the nation in rushing with 1,928 yards, while Turner, who has earned two Pro Bowl selections with the Atlanta Falcons and has led the NFC in rushing in each of the last two seasons, finished second in the nation as a senior at Northern Illinois in 2003 with 1,648 yards. His first stint as offensive line coach for Northern Illinois was for two years, from 1994-95. Pittman also previously coached the offensive linemen at Kansas (2001), Missouri (2000), Western Michigan (1999), and Oklahoma (1997-98). He coached offensive tackles and tight ends at Cincinnati at 1996.

Before coaching at NIU, Pittman spent two seasons as the head coach at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College from 1992-93 after serving as the school’s offensive line coach in 1991. He was a head coach in the high school ranks at Trenton (Mo.) High School from 1989-90 and at Princeton (Mo.) High School from 1987-88. He began his coaching career with a two-year stint as a student assistant at Pittsburg State from 1984-85, followed by one season as an assistant coach at Beggs (Okla.) High School.

Pittman, a graduate of Pittsburg State (Kan.), played defensive end at the school and was inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998. He is married to the former Jamie Conrad of Pittsburg, Kan.

SAM PITTMAN COACHING CAREER
2007-11 » North Carolina, Offensive Line/Associate Head Coach (2011)
2003-06 » Northern Illinois, Assistant Head Coach (2004-06)/Offensive Line
2001 » Kansas, Offensive Line
2000 » Missouri, Offensive Line
1999 » Western Michigan, Offensive Line
1997-98 » Oklahoma, Offensive Line
1996 » Cincinnati, Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends
1994-95 » Northern Illinois, Offensive Line
1992-93 » Hutchinson (Kan.) CC, Head Coach
1991 » Hutchinson (Kan.), Offensive Line
1989-90 » Trenton (Mo.) High School, Head Coach
1987-88 » Princeton (Mo.) High School, Head Coach
1986 » Beggs (Okla.) High School, Assistant Coach
1984-85 » Pittsburg State, Student Coach