North Carolina Tar Heels has named Gene Chizik as head coach

North Carolina has hired former Auburn football coach Gene Chizik as defense head coach, the school announced Saturday.

Chizik was out of coaching and worked for the past several years on ESPN’s SEC Network.

“Gene has been a respected member of our college football since the SEC Network’s opening season in 2014,” ESPN Production Director Lee Fitting said in a statement. “Over the last five seasons, since returning to ESPN, ‘Coach Chiz’ has instilled its passion in the game with its colleagues and watchers, and we’re all better at it. We wish him all the best in his latest chapter. UNC.”

Prior to working in television, Chizik was a defense coordinator in North Carolina from 2015 to 2016, helping Tar Heels develop into the country’s most advanced defense unit.

He also worked under North Carolina coach Mack Brown as Texas Defense Coordinator from 2005-2006.

In addition, North Carolina hired Indiana Defense Coordinator Charlton Warren as Defense Coordinator and Defensive Back Coach. Warren previously worked with Chizik in North Carolina.

Earlier this week, North Carolina announced defense coordinator Jay Bateman and outside linebackers / special teams coach Jovan Dewitt will not return.

North Carolina struggled in defense this season, scoring 32.1 points per game in a year that started with the ACC championship hopes.

“I’ve coached here before, I know this is a special place and I’m excited to help the program take the next step towards championships to compete and win,” Chizik said in a statement. “I’m also excited to be working with Coach Brown and several assistants again. I know this team is doing things right and for the right reasons, which is really important to me. We’ve had several opportunities to return to coaching, but this is the overall package. I’ve seen what’s on the program has become coach Brown since his return, I know where it’s going, and I’m excited to be a part of it. We can’t wait to get to Chapel Hill, meet all the guys and get to work. “