Chris Boone, a veteran of nine seasons as a defensive coordinator, seven at the FCS level, begins his 17th season in college coaching and his third season working with Jay Thomas.
Boone was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2011-12 at Jacksonville State, and 2006-10 was assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and secondary coach at Tennessee-Martin, reaching the FCS play-offs in 2006 at UT-Martin.
Thomas and Boone coached together at Nicholls in the 2002 and 2003 seasons. Thomas was DC in 2002-03 and promoted to head coach in 2004, and Boone left in June to become defensive coordinator/secondary coach at East Central Community College. Boone was linebackers coach both seasons at Nicholls, while Thomas worked with the defensive linemen. The 2003 Nicholls team played for the Southland Conference championship as two of Boone’s linebackers earned All-Southland honors for the second straight year. In 2002, Nicholls had its first winning season since 1996 (7-4) and finished with a No. 21 national ranking, leading the conference in scoring defense.
Boone has also coached collegiately at Arkansas-Monticello, Alabama-Birmingham, Southern Mississippi and Pearl River Community College. He was a high school coach at Wayne County (Miss.) in the 1998 season.
Last season, his Jacksonville State defensive unit led the Ohio Valley Conference in red zone defense in league play as the Gamecocks went 6-5 overall, 5-3 in the OVC. In 2011, JSU won the OVC, going 7-4 overall and 6-2 in the league. Boone’s defense led the OVC with 17 interceptions and in league games, led the OVC in rush defense (144.9 ypg), third down conversion percentage (67 percent) and scoring defense (24.8 ppg). Five of his players made all-conference in his two seasons under veteran head coach Jack Crowe.
In 2006-10 at UT-Martin under head coach Jason Simpson, Boone helped UTM post its best five-season record (32-25) in school history. He coached two All-America linebackers in 2007 and 2008, and a 2006 Buck Buchanan Award nominee. Two of his defenses (2010, 2006) ranked in the top 12 nationally in total defense (fewest yards allowed pg).
His 2010 defense led the OVC in total defense, ranking 12th nationally. UTM led the OVC in pass defense, pass efficiency defense, fewest first downs allowed and third down conversion defense.
The 2006 UTM team won the OVC and finished 9-3 with a No. 13 national ranking. Boone’s defense led the OVC in total defense, scoring defense, rush defense, pass defense and pass efficiency defense. Nationally, UT-Martin ranked sixth in total defense.
His 2008 defense led the OVC in sacks, tackles for losses, and fumble recoveries while finishing third in the league in total defense. The 2009 defense was second in rush defense in the Ohio Valley Conference.
In 1999 at UAB, he worked under legendary defensive coordinator Bill Clay and head coach Watson Brown. In 2000-2001 at UAM, he was recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach, helping the Boll Weevils go 8-3 and rank as high as 18th in Division II. At USM as a student assistant in the 1996 season, he worked under defensive coordinator John Thompson, assisting him with the linebackers, as the Golden Eagles went 8-3 and won the Conference USA championship.
“Chris and I have the same beliefs, starting with having worked together at Nicholls,” said Thomas. “He’s been a defensive coordinator ever since (2004) and he has a really impressive record in this role. He brings a ton of knowledge, energy, and experience at the FCS level with a lot of success at two really competitive Ohio Valley Conference programs. He is a football guy through and through. He turns over every rock. He’s a good teacher. Our kids will enjoy playing for him.
“His experience in successfully recruiting Mississippi and Alabama, and south Louisiana, makes him a really great hire in that regard. I know, because when I was the head man at Nicholls, he beat me on a couple of guys from Louisiana when he was at UT-Martin,” said Thomas.
Playing Experience: Boone played at Southern Mississippi in 1995. At Jones County (Miss.) JC, he was a two-year starter and voted team captain in 1991-92. At West Jones HS, he was a three-year starter who was All-County, All-Conference and All-District.
Personal: Boone and his wife, Coco Walker Boone, celebrated their 13th anniversary on June 17. They have three children, daughters Cameron (10) and Casidee (5), and son Colton (2).
