Chris Achuff joined South Alabama as defensive line coach in Jan. 2026.
A veteran coach with experience in the National Football League, Achuff most recently worked for the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator.
Prior to coaching with the Brahmas, Achuff was on staff at Syracuse for four seasons. He joined the Orange as the linebackers coach in 2020, then moved over to defensive line ahead of the 2022 season. In his final two seasons at Syracuse, the Orange appeared in back-to-back bowl games. In 2022, he helped ‘Cuse finish 21st nationally in total defense and third in the ACC. In 2021, he developed linebacker Mikel Jones into a First Team All-ACC performer after finishing second in the league in tackles. Achuff also helped Stefon Thompson earn Freshman All-America honors in 2020.
Before his time in New York, Achuff spent two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. He was the assistant defensive line coach in 2018 before being promoted to defensive line coach in 2019. In Arizona, Achuff was instrumental in the development of all-pro player Chandler Jones. In 2018, Jones had a team-best 13 sacks as the Cardinals 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 First Team 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.
Achuff spent one season at Navarro Junior College in 2017 between stops at Baylor and the Cardinals. Baylor was Achuff’s longest career stop as he served as defensive line coach from 2008-16. During Achuff’s tenure at Baylor, the Bears won back-to-back Big 12 Conference championships in 2012 and 2013, and he coached three All-Americans, 12 all-conference selections and two bowl game MVPs. Defensive tackle Phil Taylor was a first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2011. 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 time at Baylor, Achuff spent four seasons in the FCS ranks. He coached at Chattanooga in 2004, Charleston Southern in 2005 and then arrived at UT Martin in 2006, where he spent two seasons. At UT Martin, he helped the Skyhawks win the Ohio Valley Conference Championship and advance to the FCS Playoffs. He also helped Charleston Southern win a conference championship while also achieving the first winning record in program history.
Achuff started his coaching career as a student assistant at his alma mater, Bloomsburg University in 1998. In 1999 he worked as outside linebackers coach and strength and conditioning coach at Bryant College. He then moved to Kutztown university in 2000, and held the same title for two seasons. Achuff then spent two seasons at Penn State as a graduate assistant.
A native of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, Achuff played linebacker at Bloomsburg 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 CHRIS ACHUFF FILE
Born: Sept. 18, 1975
Hometown: Bellefonte, Penn.
Education: Bloomsburg, 1998
Wife: Kim
Children: Julia, Carter and Tyler
PLAYING CAREER
College: Bloomsburg (Linebacker)
COACHING CAREER
1998: Bloomsburg (Student Assistant)
1999: Bryant College (Outside Linebackers/Strength & Conditioning)
2000-01: Kutztown (Linebackers/Strength & Conditioning)
2022-03: 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)
2020-21: Syracuse (Linebackers)
2022-23: Syracuse (Defensive Line)
2024-25: San Antonio Brahmas (Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator)
2026-present: South Alabama (Defensive Line)
