UNC Football: Potential Defensive Coordinator Candidates To Replace Gene Chizik

Geoff Collins - Former Georgia Tech Head Coach

This is one that fans will look at his head coaching record and how his time spent in Atlanta with Georgia Tech went and roll their eyes at. Collins did not have a successful head coaching career. He has a combined record of 25-38, including 10-28 with the Yellow Jackets in the ACC, never winning more than three games in a season. However, he did beat North Carolina once during his time there before being let go four games into the 2022 season.

His defensive background is extensive, with his most recent stints coming in the Southeastern Conference with Mississippi State from 2011-2012 as co-Defensive Coordinator and 2013-2014 as Defensive Coordinator with the Bulldogs. He also spent 2015 and 2016 in the SEC with the Florida Gators before becoming an head coach at Temple in 2017.

During his time in Starkville, his defense finished top-five in total defense, rushing defense, and passing defense during the 2013 season. He followed that up in his final season with the Bulldogs in 2014 with a defense that led the SEC in sacks and had the conference's No. 1 red zone defense.

At Florida, his defenses finished No. 11 and No. 6 in scoring defense nationally in 2015 and 2016, respectively, while also putting up an impressive stat in 2015. The Gators became just the seventh team in the previous 20 seasons to not allow a touchdown against three power five schools on the road in the same season.

Collins is also someone who has experience in leading a defensive scheme using the 4-2-5 and could prove to be a valuable asset to the coaching staff. He also brings the added benefit of having recruited the ACC landscape and Atlanta area during his time with the Yellow Jackets, which could be a bonus.