John Chavis ( American football ) Johnny " John " Chavis ( born October 16 , 1956 ) , nicknamed " The Chief " , is the current defensive coordinator and linebacker s coach of the LSU Tigers football team and former defensive coordinator , linebacker coach , and associate head coach at the University of Tennessee . Coaching career . Early career . Before returning to Tennessee ( where he had briefly been a graduate assistant ) , Chavis had been defensive coordinator at Alabama A & M , a historically Black university . There he led the Defense of the Division II school to the best defensive record in the nation . The Bulldogs ranked first in total defense in 1987 and 1988 . Before taking the defensive coordinator job at Alabama A & M , Chavis coached as a graduate assistant at Tennessee in 1979 , as defensive line coach at Alabama A & M from 1980 – 83 and then as defensive line coach and defensive coordinator at Alabama State in 1984 - 85 . " I look at their defense . Coach Chavis , he ' s done a great job for a long time . " - Charlie Weis ( Notre Dame Head Coach ) Chavis and then Florida Defensive Coordinator Bob Stoops are credited with bringing the " Zone Blitz " into College Football in the mid to late 90 ' s . Tennessee . Chavis returned to Tennessee in 1989 as defensive line and linebackers coach under his former college coach , Johnny Majors . He was promoted to defensive coordinator under Majors ' successor , Phillip Fulmer , in 1995 . Under Chavis ' watch , Tennessee gained a reputation for fielding some of the stingiest defenses in the nation . Following the national championship season of 1998 , Chavis was named the SEC ' s outstanding linebacker coach . Tennessee ' s defense led the SEC in 1996 and ranked in the top three five of the past seven years . In addition to supervising linebackers and the overall defense , Chavis in 1999 was named assistant head coach . Following the 2006 season , Chavis was named as the Assistant Football Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association . Chavis and other members of the staff have seen increased pressure after a slow start to the 2007 season , including double - digit losses to California and Florida . Chavis ' s career at Tennessee came to an end in the middle of the 2008 season . Following a 3 - 6 start and a blowout loss to Steve Spurrier and South Carolina , Phillip Fulmer announced the following Monday that he , at the University ' s decision , would step down as head coach . Fulmer ' s resignation would ultimately oust Chavis as defensive coordinator . Chavis ' s final three games would bring confidence but major disappointment to his final days with UT , starting with an embarrassing 13 - 7 loss to Wyoming which would keep UT from making a bowl for the second time in four years . Chavis would win his final game at UT against the University of Kentucky , 28 - 10 , continuing a 24 game win streak against the Wildcats . Playing career . Chavis came to UT as a walk - on defensive lineman and later was granted a scholarship on the basis of his play at middle guard and tackle . He played for both Bill Battle and Johnny Majors . He lettered in 1977 and 1978 and received his degree from the College of Education in 1979 . Chavis became a starter for the Tennessee Defense during his senior season . Chavis is a native of Dillon , South Carolina . NFL Players . The following is an incomplete list of defensive players who were drafted into the NFL , or who made an NFL Roster since Chavis took over as Defensive Coordinator in 1995 : Family . He and his wife , Diane Crisp Chavis , are the parents of two sons , C . John Chavis ( age , married to Sandra Lee Chavis ) and Jason Chavis ( age ) .