Gene Chizik steps down at UNC with letter to Tar Heels fans

UNC defensive coordinator Gene Chizik is stepping down after two seasons, the school announced on Thursday evening. Chizik was hired on Jan. 19, 2015, three years after his firing from Auburn as its head coach.

Chizik released a letter to Tar Heel fans shortly after the news broke, expressing his appreciation to both the fan base and the university.

Below is another statement from Chizik via UNC’s official release.

“After a lot of prayer and discussions with my wife and children, I have made the difficult decision to step away from coaching to be with my family,” Chizik said. “The past two years at the University of North Carolina and the opportunity to work with Coach Fedora have been a blessing, and I’m extremely proud of the success we enjoyed. I have always told my players family should come before football, and it’s time for me to follow my own advice. I look forward to watching my own son play the game I’ve dedicated my life and career to for the next two years, and I look forward to the simple joys of being a father and husband I’ve missed out on.”

Chizik was able to orchestrate an impressive turnaround at Chapel Hill during the 2015 season, bringing the defensive unit from 62nd in the country per S&P+ in 2014 to a top-20 finish at the end of his first season. Chizik was named a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2015, given to the nation’s top assistant in the country.

Last season, the Tar Heels finished 44th in the country in Defensive S&P+.

We have seen a similar situation like this happen before. Most notably, Urban Meyer stepped down as Florida’s head coach in 2010, and his reasoning was centered around spending more time with his family. He spent the 2011 season with ESPN as an analyst before accepting the Ohio State head coaching job in November of that year.

Current linebackers coach John Papuchis, who was on staff with Chizik for the last two seasons, will take over as Carolina’s defensive coordinator.