Temple University Athletics
Chuck Heater Named Defensive Coordinator at Temple
1.31.11 | Football
Fifth Member Named to Addazio’s Staff
“We're very fortunate to have Chuck Heater join our football family,” Addazio said. “Chuck is one of the most respected coaches in college football. He is a tremendous person and dedicated family man. Chuck has vast experience as a defensive coordinator, having held the position at three schools. He has been a part of three national championship teams, two with me at Florida, and in 1988 with Notre Dame. He is a great teacher with intensity and enthusiastic people skills. I'm proud to welcome Chuck, his wife Debbie, and their entire family to Temple University.”
“I am excited to be a part of Temple football and to continue my relationship with Steve Addazio,” Heater said. “I'm excited about the future of Temple football and what we can accomplish here.”
Heater brings 35 years of coaching experience, including stints at Florida, Colorado, Northern Arizona, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Toledo, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. The defensive coordinator at Florida in 2010, he has coached in 24 bowl games, including eight on New Year's Day, and the 2007 and 2009 BCS National Championship Games, where Florida captured two national titles, and the 1988 national championship with Notre Dame.
Under his guidance, since 2005, the Florida Gators recorded 116 interceptions, the most in the SEC and the second-best total in the nation during that time frame. In 2010, Heater led the Gator secondary to a No. 3 ranking in SEC pass defense and SEC pass defense efficiency, while ranking second in the conference with 17 interceptions. Safety Ahmad Black was named a second-team All-American in 2010.
In 2009, Heater helped guide a Florida secondary that ranked first in the SEC, the first time since 1988, and second in the nation in pass defense, allowing just 152.8 yards per game. Four opponents failed to crack the 100-yard mark in passing offense against the Gators and six completed fewer than 50 percent of their pass attempts. Heater helped turn around a defensive secondary that was one of the nation's worst in 2007 to rank among the best in 2008. The UF pass efficiency defense ranked third in the nation in 2008 (up from 71st in 2007) and the pass defense improved to rank 20th in the nation in 2008 (up from 98th in 2007). Sophomore Ahmad Black was named second-team All-SEC by the coaches and honorable mention All-American honors from Sports Illustrated. Black was a second-team All-Sophomore selection by College Football News, while sophomore Major Wright earned honorable mention recognition for the All-Sophomore team. Will Hill was selected to the SEC All-Freshman team and was named a second-team All-Freshman performer by College Football News. Black tied for the national lead with seven interceptions in 2008, totaling 191 interception return yards, the second-most in the country, and two touchdowns.
Heater served as the recruiting coordinator for the 2006 and 2007 Florida classes that each ranked among the Top-two nationally, including No. 1 by several services. The 2008 class was ranked in the top five by several services.
The Gator secondary led the SEC in interceptions in 2005 and 2006 with 16 in 2005 (tied with Georgia) and 21 in 2006. UF's 2006 total tied for the fourth-highest in school history. Florida's 2006 pass defense efficiency (98.3) ranked fourth nationally and second in the SEC. UF surrendered only 10 passing touchdowns in 2006 (tied for eighth nationally). The unit also ranked second in scoring defense in the league and sixth nationally (13.5).
Heater guided All-SEC first-team selection Ryan Smith, whose total of eight interceptions led the league and was seventh nationally in 2006. The total was also the second-highest by a Gator in school history. He tutored the 2005 cornerbacks at Florida that were part of a secondary that allowed just 52.3 percent of passes to be complete – the 16th-best percentage nationally. A member of the UF secondary had a sack in five of the 12 games on the year. He coached All-SEC performer Dee Webb in 2005 (First Team by AP and Second Team by coaches), who led the SEC in pass deflections and team MVP Vernell Brown who ranked second in the SEC in interceptions.
Heater worked alongside former Florida head coach Urban Meyer at four different Division I programs. In 1986, Heater coached the secondary at Ohio State when Meyer was a graduate assistant. They coached together again at Colorado State from 1991-92 where Heater was the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach and Meyer as the receivers coach. Heater was also a member of the Utah coaching staff in 2004.
During the 2004 campaign, Heater served as the cornerbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at Utah as the Utes completed a perfect 12-0 season.
He spent five years at the University of Washington as either the cornerbacks or running backs coach between 1999-2003 and also served as the Huskies' recruiting coordinator. Heater was credited with helping the school sign three recruiting classes rated in the Top 15. Three of his recruiting classes produced a Freshman All-American. In 2002, he switched from the corners to the running backs. He also oversaw the Huskies' punt and kick return teams.
During his first season at Notre Dame, Heater was a member of the coaching staff that led the Irish to a 12-0 record and the 1988 national championship.
He also served as the secondary coach at Notre Dame (1988-90), Ohio State (1985-87) and Wisconsin (1982-84). Heater coached the running backs from 1977-78 and the secondary at Toledo from 1979-81. He began his collegiate coaching career in 1976 at Northern Arizona, coaching the running backs.
A native of Tiffin, Ohio, Heater received his bachelor's degree in education from Michigan in 1975. A three-year letterwinner at running back, Heater earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior and was named honorable mention as a senior. Finishing his playing career as UM's fifth-leading rusher all-time with 1,981 yards on 406 carries (a 4.9-yard per carry average), he received the school's Fielding Yost Award in 1975 for the most outstanding academic and athletic performance by a senior. During his tenure at Michigan, the Wolverines went 41-3-1 and won outright or shared the Big Ten title every season.
Heater was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 10th round with the 241st overall selection in the 1975 NFL Draft.
Heater is married to the former Deborah Dariano. The couple has three children: Emily, Andy, and Adam. Andy was a defensive tackle at the University of Washington in 2005 and is now an Airborne Army Ranger, while Adam played tight end at UCLA.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2011- present Temple University, Defensive Coordinator
2005-10 University of Florida
2010 Co-Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
2008-09 Assistant Defensive Coordinator / Safeties
2005-07 Recruiting Coordinator / Cornerbacks
2004 University of Utah
2004 Cornerbacks / Recruiting Coordinator
1999-03 University of Washington
2002-03 Recruiting Coordinator / Running Backs
1999-01 Cornerbacks / Recruiting Coordinator
1991-98 University of Colorado
1998 Recruiting Coordinator / Tight Ends
1995-97 Tight Ends
1994 Secondary
1993 Football Operations / Recruiting Coordinator
1991-92 Colorado State University
1991-92 Defensive Coordinator / Inside Linebackers
1988-90 University of Notre Dame
1988-90 Secondary
1985-87 Ohio State University
1985-87 Secondary
1982-84 University of Wisconsin
1982-84 Secondary
1977-81 University of Toledo
1979-81 Secondary
1977-78 Running Backs
1976 University of Northern Arizona
1976 Running Backs
BOWL GAMES AS A COACH
1981: California
1982: Independence
1984: Hall of Fame
1985: Citrus
1987: Cotton
1989: Fiesta
1990: Orange
1991: Orange
1993: Aloha
1995: Fiesta
1996: Cotton
1996: Holiday
1998: Aloha
1999: Holiday
2001: Rose
2001: Holiday
2002: Sun
2005: Fiesta
2006: Outback
2007: BCS National Championship
2008: Capital One
2009: BCS National Championship
2010: Sugar
2011: Outback
PLAYING CAREER
1971-74 University of Michigan
Three-year letterwinner at running back
Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior
Named honorable mention as a senior
Finished his playing career as UM's fifth-leading rusher all-time
with 1,981 yards on 406 carries
1975 Fielding Yost Award winner
PERSONAL
Birthdate: Oct. 10, 1952
Hometown: Tiffin, Ohio
Education: 1975 – Bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Michigan
Family: Married to the former Deborah Dariano. The couple has three children: Emily, Andy (was a defensive tackle at the University of Washington in 2005 and is now an Airborne Army Ranger) and Adam (played tight end at UCLA).
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
FLORIDA:
S AHMAD BLACK – Second-team All-America by AP, first-team by Rivals.com and honorable mention by Sports Illustrated. Consensus first-team All-SEC selection by AP, coaches' and Phil Steele. Named to the SEC Football Community Service Team.
CB JANORIS JENKINS – First-team All-SEC pick by the AP and second-team pick by the coaches' and Phil Steele.
CB RYAN SMITH – Second-team All-America by AP and third-team by Rivals.com. First-team All-SEC selection by AP and second-team by the league coaches. Was a sixth-round selection (206th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
CB DEE WEBB – First-team All-SEC by Associated Press and second-team All-SEC by league coaches. Led the SEC in pass deflections. Seventh-round draft choice by the Jacksonville Jaguars (236th overall) in 2006.
S REGGIE NELSON – First-team All-America (AP, FWAA, Walter Camp). A finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Award. First Team All-SEC (Coaches and AP). First-round selection (21st overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
S MAJOR WRIGHT – Appeared in all 41 games in his career, with 33 starts at free safety. Collected 165 tackles in his career, eight interceptions, 10 pass breakups, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears.
COLORADO:
CB CHRIS HUDSON – Consensus All-American as a senior in 1994 who won the Jim Thorpe Award that season. A three-time first-team All-Big Eight performer later taken in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1995 NFL Draft.
TE DANIEL GRAHAM – All-American tight end for the Buffaloes who was a 2002 first-round draft pick by the New England Patriots.
NOTRE DAME:
CB JEFF BURRIS – All-America cornerback for the Fighting Irish who was drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills in 1994.
CB TOM CARTER – Selected in the first round of the 1993 Draft by the Washington Redskins.
CB TODD LYGHT – Two-time All-America (1989-90) cornerback for the Irish who was a 1991 first-round Draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams.
S PAT TERRELL – Chosen in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
WISCONSIN:
CB RICHARD JOHNSON – All-America and All-Big Ten cornerback in 1984 who was drafted in the first round by the Houston Oilers in 1985.
CB NATE ODOMES – First-team All-Big Ten cornerback for the Badgers who was drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills in 1987.
NFL PLAYERS COACHED (Round Drafted)
DB Matt Vandenboom (5th) – Wisconsin '83 – Buffalo Bills
CB Richard Johnson (1st) – Wisconsin '85 – Houston Oilers
FS Sonny Gordon (6th) – Ohio State '87 – Cincinnati Bengals
CB Nate Odomes (2nd) – Wisconsin '87 – Buffalo Bills
CB Ray Jackson (7th) – Ohio State '88 – Seattle Seahawks
CB William White (4th) – Ohio State '88 – Detroit Lions
CB Stan Smagala (5th) – Notre Dame '90 – Los Angeles Raiders
S Pat Terrell (2nd) – Notre Dame '90 – Los Angeles Rams
CB Todd Lyght (1st) – Notre Dame '91 – Los Angeles Rams
CB Tom Carter (1st) – Notre Dame '93 – Washington Redskins
CB Jeff Burris (2nd) – Notre Dame '94 – Buffalo Bills
CB Willie Clark (3rd) – Notre Dame '94 – San Diego Chargers
SS John Covington (5th) – Notre Dame '94 – Indianapolis Colts
CB Chris Hudson (3rd) – Colorado '95 – Jacksonville Jaguars
LB Sean Moran (4th) – Colorado State '96 – Buffalo Bills
TE Daniel Graham (1st) – Colorado '02 – New England Patriots
CB Omare Lowe (5th) – Washington '02 – Miami Dolphins
CB Derrick Johnson (6th) – Washington '05 – San Francisco 49ers
CB Dee Webb (7th) – Florida '06 – Jacksonville Jaguars
CB Vernell Brown (FA) – Florida '06 – New England Patriots
CB Ryan Smith (6th) – Florida '07 – Tennessee Titans
CB Reggie Lewis (FA) – Florida '07 – Buffalo Bills
DB Tony Joiner (FA) – Florida '08 – Tennessee Titans
S Major Wright (3rd) – Florida '10 – Chicago Bears
What They're Saying About Chuck Heater
“He's one of the best teachers. I used to just sit in his meetings and watch him coach ... Coach Heater has a tendency of making some players out of non-players.”
Urban Meyer, former University of Florida Head Coach
“Coach Heater is a special coach. The intensity he brings to practice every day is second to none.”
Jeremy Brown, junior, cornerback, University of Florida
“He's like a father to all of us, so he got after us off the field and on the field. He brought the things out of us that we possibly didn't want to let come out. Plays we were capable of making, the cuts, the turns, the flips, everything we were capable of doing. If he saw that he could get it out of us, he was going to stay on us and make us be the best players we could be.”
Markihe Anderson, former cornerback, University of Florida
“He's done so much for me. Coaches like that, those are the guys you want to play for.”
Ryan Smith, former cornerback, University of Florida
“You can tell coach Heater develops relationships with all his guys and makes sure that their best interests are served. That's really pleasing to me. You want your guy to go someplace where he's going to be taken care of, and you can tell coach Heater is that kind of guy.”
Darnell Grant, Irvington (N.J.) High School football coach
“Coach Urban Meyer calls Heater the best in the business. He took unproven and under-sized Vernell Brown and turned him into an All-SEC corner in 2005. In 2006, he took converted wide receiver Reggie Lewis and made him into a most reliable corner, and he took Ryan Smith, who had burned up the bench at Utah in 2005 and turned him into a ferocious corner that finished second in the nation in pass interceptions.”
Bob Redman, Gator Country
“Heater has developed the reputation as one of the best secondary coaches in the country. At UF, Vernell Brown leaped from little-used reserve to All-SEC caliber, and Ryan Smith went from a disconnected backup in the Mountain West Conference to a second-team All-America selection, holding his own against the SEC's best. If Heater coaxes the same type of performance from his latest crew, he will deserve canonization.”
Guerry Smith, Gatorbait.net
