Chris Boone enters his first season as a member of the Samford coaching staff. While at Samford, Boone will coach the Bulldogs’ defensive line.
Boone comes to Samford from Northwestern State, where he served as associate head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2013. Boone’s defense finished second in the Southland Conference in total defense in 2013. The Demons also won six games for the first time in five years.
Prior to working at Northwestern State, Boone served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Jacksonville State in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, his Jacksonville State defensive unit led the Ohio Valley Conference in red zone defense in league play. 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 at JSU.
From 2006 to 2010, Boone was assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Tennessee-Martin, reaching the FCS playoffs in 2006. During his time at UT-Martin, Boone helped the Skyhawks post their 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. 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 and finished sixth in the nation in total defense, scoring defense, rush defense, pass defense and pass efficiency defense.
Boone was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at East Central Community College from 2004 to 2005.
From 2002 to 2004, Boone coached at Nicholls State University. The 2003 Nicholls team played for the Southland Conference championship as two of Boone’s linebackers earned All-Southland Conference 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 (2000-02), UAB (1999-2000), Pearl River Community College (1997-98) and Southern Mississippi
(1996-97). He was a high school coach at Wayne County (Miss.) during the 1998 season.
Boone, a 1997 graduate of Southern Mississippi, played at USM in 1995. Prior to that, he played at Jones County (Miss.) Junior College where he was a twoyear starter and voted team captain in 1991 and 1992.
Boone and his wife, Coco, have three children, daughters Cameron and Casidee, and son Colton.
