Texas A&M taking LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis, per reports
Chavis joins an annual opponent after spending the previous six seasons with LSU.
LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis appears likely to leave Baton Rouge to take the vacant defensive coordinator job at Texas A&M, based on head coach Les Miles’ reported comments after the Music City Bowl. Chavis has been with the Tigers since 2009, and has been the architect of a series of excellent LSU defenses.
“John Chavis was very productive for us. Great career for LSU,” Miles said, according to The Advocate’s Ross Dellenger, with other reporters echoing Miles’ use of past tense. However, Miles also said he’d try once more to keep Chavis.
“I don’t know how it looks, nor do I give a damn,” Miles said when asked about reports that Chavis could join the division-rival Aggies.
LSU may have lost a def. coord. and a game. "I'm told that's the case," Coach Les Miles said when asked if DC John Chavis is going to TA&M.
— Glenn Guilbeau (@LSUBeatTweet) December 30, 2014 Chavis’ contract expired at the end of this season, and he was reportedly unsatisfied with the three-year, $4 million contract that LSU had offered him. The new deal would only have included a small raise of $30,000 a year, significantly less than the $1.7 million annually that was reportedly offered by Texas A&M.
Under his old contract, Chavis had the fourth-highest salary in the country among assistants, making just over $1.3 million per year. His LSU defenses regularly ranked among the country’s best and have been one of the few to reliably shut down Kevin Sumlin’s Aggies.
As I’ve understood it, Les has been trying to do everything to keep Chief. Have been told LSU’s administration has somewhat tied Les’ hands
— FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) December 30, 2014 Some may be surprised by the possibility of Chavis taking another job within the SEC West, but this would not be Chavis’ first intra-SEC move, as he joined LSU after spending nearly 20 years at Tennessee. He would replace Mark Snyder, who was fired immediately following the regular season. Texas A&M was reportedly pursuing former Florida head coach Will Muschamp for the defensive coordinator role, but Muschamp ultimately elected to take the same position at Auburn.
The Aggie defense has lagged far behind their potent offense, and they frequently found themselves unable to outscore their opposition in 2014. They surrendered over 450 yards per game in 2014, 105th in the nation, and allowed just over 28 points per game, good for 80th in the country.
