Chris Achuff Named Orange Linebackers Coach

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse head football coach Dino Babers announced the hiring of Chris Achuff as the team's linebackers coach on Wednesday. A Bellefonte, Pennsylvania native, Achuff most recently served as the defensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals where he worked with former Syracuse superstar and 2019 NFL All-Pro Chandler Jones.

"Chris has been around some of the top coaches and athletes in the sport," Babers said. "He was in the NFL for two seasons in addition to his college experience. He's a fantastic addition to our staff and we are excited to have him on board."

"I can't thank Coach Babers enough for this opportunity," Achuff said. "Growing up in Pennsylvania, I knew all about Syracuse and its storied football tradition. I'm truly excited to work with these players and help Coach Babers add to that legacy."

Achuff joined the Cardinals in 2018 as the team's assistant defensive line coach and was promoted to defensive line coach in 2019. In Achuff's first year with the franchise, Jones had a team-best 13 sacks as Arizona tied for fifth in the league with 49 sacks overall. Jones was even better in 2019. He finished second in the NFL with 19 sacks and tied for the league lead with eight forced fumbles to earn All-Pro honors and his third Pro Bowl invitation. Combined with his 11 sacks in 2016 and 17 sacks in 2017, Jones became the first player in franchise history to record 10+ sacks in four consecutive seasons.

Prior to his time with the Cardinals, Achuff spent the first 19 years of his career at the collegiate level, including stints as the defensive line coach at Baylor (2008-16), Tennessee-Martin (2006-07), Charleston Southern (2005) and Chattanooga (2004).

During his tenure at Baylor, the Bears won back-to-back Big 12 Conference championships (2012-13) and Achuff coached three All-Americans and 12 all-conference selections. Defensive tackle Phil Taylor was a first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2011 and defensive tackle Andrew Billings was the 2015 Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year, while also being named an All-American. Billings was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Before his nine-year stint in Waco, Achuff worked for two years at UT Martin, helping the Skyhawks win the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) title and advance to the FCS playoffs with a 9-3 record in 2006. UT Martin led the OVC and ranked 17th nationally in run defense (112.9 ypg) and sixth nationally in total defense en route to its league title that season.

While at Charleston Southern in 2005, Achuff helped the Buccaneers win their first conference championship, while also achieving the first winning record (7-4) in school history. CSU was named the Division I-AA Team of the Year by the College Sports Report in 2005. Achuff spent the 2004 season as the defensive line coach at Chattanooga after working for two seasons as a graduate assistant at Penn State (2002-03).

Achuff began his coaching career at his alma mater, Bloomsburg University, in 1998 as a student assistant working with the team's linebackers. Achuff then coached outside linebackers and led the school's strength and conditioning program at Bryant College in 1999. From there, he moved on to Kutztown University where he was in charge of the linebackers and strength and conditioning for two seasons (2000-01). Achuff spent the 2017 season at Navarro (Texas) Junior College working with the defensive line.

Achuff played linebacker and was a standout on special teams at Bloomsburg (1994-97) where he was a part of four PSAC championship teams.

He and his wife, Kim, have one daughter, Julia, and two sons, Carter and Tyler.

THE ACHUFF FILE
Hometown: Bellefonte, Pa.
Alma Mater: Bloomsburg '98
Family: wife, Kim; sons, Carter and Tyler; daughter, Julia

COACHING EXPERIENCE
1999: Bryant College – Outside Linebackers
2000-01: Kutztown University – Linebackers
2002-03: Penn State – Graduate Assistant
2004: Chattanooga – Defensive Line
2005: Charleston Southern – Defensive Line
2006-07: UT Martin – Defensive Line
2008-16: Baylor – Defensive Line
2017: Navarro Junior College – Defensive Line
2018: Arizona Cardinals – Assistant Defensive Line
2019: Arizona Cardinals – Defensive Line

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