Dir. of Football Operations/Defensive Line Earl Chambers

Earl Chambers

Now in his fifth year as an assistant at Valdosta State, Earl Chambers has solidified himself as one of the top defensive line coaches in the country.

Chambers immediately made his mark on Valdosta State in 2005 as he aided both defensive ends on the squad to All-Gulf South Conference seasons. Under his tutelage, Tim Thompson earned first team All-GSC honors while Dedrick Morrison was tabbed to the league's second team. Likewise, Chambers coached Travis Harrison to an All-GSC first team spot in 2006 and was integral in the Blazer defense setting a school record for fewest points and total yards allowed. He also served as Valdosta State's recruiting coordinator during his first two seasons and was instrumental in recruiting 2006 GSC Freshman of the Year Cedric Jones.

Chambers' experience and ability to teach the game of football was once again evident in 2007 as his unit was instrumental in the Blazers winning the Division II national championship. His teaching helped Harrison earn second-team All-GSC honors during the year while the defensive line accounted for 23.5 of VSU's 38 sacks on the year while totaling 53 tackles for loss. Under Chambers' guidance, the young group, which featured eight freshman and two sophomore out of the 16 players to see time on the defensive line during the season, improved considerably over the course of the season and was instrumental in holding Northwest Missouri State's Xavier Omon, who was averaging 236 yards a game in the playoffs, to just 63 yards in the national title game.

The 2008 season again saw Chambers work his magic with the defensive line as he directed a group that accounted for 39 of the Blazers 82 tackles for loss and 17.0 of VSU's 23.0 sacks. The individual accolades continued to roll in for Chambers' players as Demario Jones earned first team All-Gulf South Conference honors as well as All-South Region recognition at the end of the season.

Chambers, 33, joined the Valdosta State staff from the University of Georgia, where he spent five years as a graduate assistant. Chambers spent his first year on the Bulldog staff as a recruiting assistant, helping to evaluate position recruits as well as coordinating official visits. His final four seasons, Chambers served as an assistant with the UGA defensive staff and as video coordinator. His defensive duties involved Chambers with the defensive line and allowed him to coach the team's offensive and special teams scout players. He also worked as an academic mentor, assisting the Bulldogs as they worked towards their college degrees.

Georgia was 50-14 during Chambers' five seasons on the coaching staff and made bowl appearances all five years. The Bulldogs won the Southeastern Conference in 2002 and were the Sugar Bowl Champions that year while winning the SEC East title in 2003. UGA won the O'Ahu Bowl his first season, the Capital One Bowl in 2003 and the Outback Bowl in his final year while appearing in the Music City Bowl in 2001. He coached three NFL first round draft picks in his five seasons with the school, including Jonathan Sullivan, Charles Grant and David Pollack.

Chambers' five years on the coaching staff at Georgia completed a 10-year run with the program, which also saw him star at strong safety from 1995 through 1999, including a red-shirt year in 1996. He registered 41 tackles and four pass breakups his senior season and aided the Bulldogs to an Outback Bowl title that year. Overall, UGA was 33-11 in his four years of action, including a 3-1 mark in bowl games.

In addition to his playing duties, Chambers served on the SEC Council, UGA Athletic Board and the Faculty Committee during the 1996-97 school year. He also served two years on Georgia's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during his undergraduate years. Chambers graduated from UGA with a degree in psychology in 1999 and is currently working on his Master's in Sport Management.

Chambers was a standout athlete in high school, lettering in four sports and starting at both quarterback and defensive back for Banneker High School. He was named honorable mention All-State by both the Associated Press and by the Atlanta Journal Constitution as a senior.

A member of the American Football Coaches Assocation, Chambers is married to the former Tonya Bell of Cuba, Alabama and is the father of three children, Eariona, 15, and Jordan, 3 and Evelyn, 7 months.