Brandon StaleyA Brandon Staley-led University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defense never allowed a single yard or point under his command.
They never got the chance.
Staley has accepted a position as outside linebackers coach for the NFL’s Chicago Bears, leaving his position of defensive coordinator for the Mocs before he ever coached a game. He was the first coach confirmed to new UTC head coach Tom Arth’s staff, and will now be the first to leave.
Losing defensive coordinators to the NFL is nothing new for Arth. The first one he hired at John Carroll University, Jerry Schuplinski, was hired by the New England Patriots before he ever coached a game. That paved the way for the first of two stints at JCU for Staley, who after the 2013 season left for a similar position at Football Championship Subdivision program James Madison. Arth replaced Staley with Chris Shula, legendary NFL coach Don Shula’s grandson, who after a season took a position with the San Diego Chargers.
“It’s been really unique, and something that’s exciting for me personally,” Arth said Wednesday. “I’m excited for the coaches to be able to do that; for the players to know they’re around incredible people and coaches. When you’re surrounding yourself with great people who work really hard, great things happen, and there’s excitement in it to know this can happen for them, too. Great things happen in their lives because they’re around special people and their dream will come true.