The Chargers added a piece to their coaching staff on Monday. It’s a name you may be familiar with (if not the first name, certainly the last name).
Bolts head coach Mike McCoy named Chris Shula a defensive quality control coach. If your name is Shula, people are going to ask if you’re a member of THAT Shula family, and yes, Chris is one of THOSE Shulas.
He’s the son of former NFL head coach Mike Shula (currently offensive coordinator for the Panthers) and the grandson of Don Shula, the winningest head coach in NFL history.
Chris comes to San Diego after spending the first five years of his coaching career at the collegiate level. A former linebacker at Miami (Ohio) University, Shula began coaching in 2010 as assistant linebackers coach for Ball State University before spending the 2011-13 seasons as an assistant at Indiana University where he worked primarily with the Hoosiers’ defensive backs.
Last season he was the defensive coordinator for John Carroll University, helping the Blue Streaks (fantastic mascot) to an 11-2 record and a spot in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Under Shula, John Carroll was ranked 7th in the nation in total defense and 10th in scoring defense.
Now that he’s heading to the NFL ranks, you could say he’s simply joining the family business.
“I’m proud of Chris and thrilled about his new position with the Chargers,” Don Shula said. “He’s a hard worker and knows the game well, having grown up in a football environment. I know he will be a great addition to the San Diego coaching staff.”
As a quality control coach Shula will have a myriad of roles, most notably breaking down opponent video to help McCoy and defensive coordinator John Pagano formulate game plans. When we hear McCoy and Philip Rivers and pretty much everyone else in the locker room say they just have to focus on that week’s opponent, take things week to week, not look too far ahead, they really mean that.
But, they can do it because the quality control coaches have already been laying the ground work for their film study for a month in advance. Quality control coaches also help run the scout teams during practice.
Chris’ grandfather still says Miami’s 1981 playoffs loss to the Chargers in overtime is one of the most disappointing games of his career. But, as the saying goes, blood is thicker than water.
“I’m glad to have a third generation of our family coach in the NFL, following in the footsteps of my two sons, Mike and Dave,” Don Shula said. “Now I’m going to have to root for two teams in addition to the Dolphins — the Chargers and the Panthers.”
So, Chargers fans, welcome a new member to the coaching staff, as well as a new member of Bolts Nation. The latter will be the guy with the 328 NFL wins and two Super Bowl rings.
