Chris Polizzi - Football Coach

Chris Polizzi

Title:
Defensive Coordinator & Safeties Coach

SECOND YEAR

Chris Polizzi (pronounced Pole-Eats-ee) is in his second season as The University of Tulsa’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

Polizzi came to Tulsa in May 2023 following five seasons at Tennessee-Martin, including his final three years as defensive coordinator. His experience also includes coaching stops at UCLA, Utah, Iowa, Western Carolina and Tennessee Tech.

In his first season, the Golden Hurricane defense ranked seventh nationally for fumble recoveries and 33^rd for turnovers gained. He coached senior safety Kendarin Ray who was the nation’s eight-leading tackler.

In 2018, Polizzi began as UT-Martin’s linebacker coach, recruiting coordinator and co-special teams coordinator for kickoff and kickoff return. A year later, he served as assistant head coach and secondary coach and kept those responsibilities when he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020.

At UT Martin, Polizzi helped lead the Skyhawks to back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Championships in 2021 and 2022. Last year, the UT Martin defense boasted an advantageous defensive attack in leading the FCS for turnovers gained (28) and interceptions (17) through the regular season. The Skyhawks also ranked among the nation's top-10 for defensive touchdowns (four, 3rd), turnover margin (+9, 5th) and fumbles recovered (11, 8th).

Polizzi mentored 18 all-conference performers at UT Martin, including the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American John H. Ford II. He also coached All-Americans Daylan Dotson and Oshae Baker during his tenure.

In UT Martin’s 10-3 season of 2021, the defense ranked among the nation’s leaders for passes intercepted (17, eighth), defensive touchdowns (three, 11th), blocked kicks (four, 15th), turnovers gained (23, 17th) and blocked punts (1, 25th). UT Martin also ranked among league leaders in sacks (21, first), defensive touchdowns (3, first), scoring defense (25.0 ppg, second), interceptions (17, second), fourth down conversion defense percentage (44.4, second), tackles for loss (6.0/game, second), turnovers gained (23, second) and rushing defense (148.5 ypg, third).

In his first year as UT Martin’s defensive coordinator, Polizzi spearheaded a dynamic unit which ranked among Ohio Valley Conference leaders in 2020-21 for third down conversion defense (29.3 percent, first), blocked kicks (6, first), scoring defense (22.0, second), red zone defense (72.7 percent, second), fourth down conversion defense (37.5 percent, third), first down defense (116, second), team tackles for loss (7.7, second), total defense (330.9 ypg, third) and rushing defense (128.9, third).
Before joining the UT Martin staff, Polizzi served as an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech for two years (2016-17). While at Tech, he was charged with overseeing the Golden Eagle defensive backs while also serving as the programs recruiting coordinator.

Prior to his stint at Tennessee Tech, Polizzi spent the 2015 season as cornerback coach at Western Carolina. Before that, he was a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Iowa, where he worked with the secondary and helped coach first-team all-Big Ten safety Micah Hyde. Polizzi was a part of the Hawkeyes Outback Bowl team in 2013 and the 2014 Gator Bowl team.

Previously, Polizzi served as a graduate assistant at Utah in 2011 where he coached the tight ends. The Utes entered their first season in the Pac-12 Conference that year, finishing the season with an 8-5 record and a win over Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl.

Polizzi spent two years (2009-10) as a quality control coach at UCLA working with the secondary. The Bruins capped the 2009 season with a win over Temple in the Eagle Bank Bowl.

He began his coaching career at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo, where he coached for four seasons (2005-08).

As a player, Polizzi was a four-year letterwinner as a cornerback at Lake Forest (Ill.) College from 2001-04 and was part of a Midwest Conference championship team.

Polizzi earned a communications degree from Lake Forest in 2005. He later earned a master's degree in special education from Central Methodist in 2007 and a second master's in sport management from Iowa in 2014.

A native of Great Barrington, Mass., Polizzi and his wife, Kelli, have one daughter, Isabella.

Alma Mater: Lake Forest (Ill.) College ‘05
Hometown: Great Barrington, Mass.
Playing Experience: Was a four-year letterwinner at Lake Forest College.

Bowl Games as a Coach
2009 Eagle Bank Bowl (UCLA)
2011 Sun Bowl (Georgia Tech)
2013 Outback Bowl (Iowa)
2014 Gator Bowl (Iowa)