Chris Hatcher bio
7/20/2009 4:18:00 AM | General
Chris Hatcher took over the storied Georgia Southern Football program in January 2007 and the charismatic head coach has revitalized the atmosphere surrounding Beautiful Eagle Creek and Paulson Stadium.
The 2008 season saw the program's 25th winning record in 27 years, including some memorable and record-breaking wins.
In late October, the Eagles staged 'The Comeback in Cullowhee', setting a NCAA record for largest fourth quarter comeback. Down 28 (31-3) at Western Carolina with 11 minutes remaining in the game, Hatcher and the Eagles rallied for a 38-31 overtime win. Another NCAA record shattered when the Eagles played in four overtime games (3-1 record) last year, including a program-record three-OT win at The Citadel 44-41.
The season culminated with an unprecedented passing game in a 17-10 win at arch-rival #14 Furman. Lee Chapple and the offense set records for most pass completions (40) and attempts (59) while throwing for 323 yards as the 2008 senior class ended their careers with a win. In fact, that win capped off a record-breaking season throwing the ball as the Eagles set six season passing records including Chapple's record 64.5 percent completion percentage.
The 'Hatch Attack' provided impressive numbers in all three phases. The offense ranked 20th nationally in passing and scoring; the defense ranked 26th in sacks and 22nd in tackles for a loss; the special teams finished 14th in punt returns, 36th in kickoff returns and tied for the SoCon lead being perfect in extra point attempts in league-only games.
All of this was done as Hatcher and his staff were forced to play in upwards of 30 freshmen on a consistent basis throughout the season. Seniors Chris Covington and Dakota Walker earned All-America honors, and Covington was voted as the Southern Conference 'Defensive Player of the Year'. In all, five Eagles received all-league honors and seven freshmen representing offense, defense and special teams were named to the inaugural SoCon All-Freshman Team.
Once Hatcher arrived in Statesboro he began to meet and greet all the Eagle fans in and around southeast Georgia. There was a renewed excitement about Georgia Southern football heading into his first season in charge. Hatcher and the Eagles provided many memorable moments and big wins.
In his first year, Hatcher led the Eagles to the second best regular season turnaround in program history, a plus-4 improvement from 2006. The Eagles ranked among the national leaders in various categories on offense, defense and special teams. He also coached five All-America players, including quarterback Jayson Foster, the second Walter Payton award winner in Eagle Football history.
The Eagles got off to a 4-1 start, including a win over South Dakota State thanks to a 54-yard field goal as time expired. After a 14-week hiatus the Eagles finally returned to the national rankings. Georgia Southern pulled off a memorable victory at 'The Rock', ending fifth-ranked Appalachian State's 30-game home win streak. It was the Eagles' first win (38-35) in Boone since 2001.
The next week against 25th-ranked The Citadel some fourth quarter heroics led to a come-from-behind win. The following week at 10th-anked Wofford, Georgia Southern accomplished another feat not done since 2001. The Eagles recorded another 38-35 victory to go 3-for-3 against nationally-ranked foes.
GS ranked 25th overall in net punting and tied for first in PAT conversions. The defense was 14th in turnover margin and 17th in fumbles recovered. The prolific offense led by Foster ranked first in rushing, eighth in total offense, eighth in scoring offense and 23rd in sacks allowed.
Hatcher tweaked his normal offense to fit the skill set of the players with great success. Not only did the Eagles score nearly 37 points per game but when it came to making a play in the clutch they did just that, finishing first nationally in fourth down conversions.
"Chris Hatcher was someone I felt embodied all we were looking for," said Director of Athletics Sam Baker. "Chris has a proven track record as a head coach - capturing the national championship in 2004 and recording a .864 winning percentage during his seven-year tenure at Valdosta State. I looked for a coach who knows how to win and I believe Coach Hatcher can do that at the Division I level. I also wanted to hire a coach with strong recruiting ties in Georgia and Florida. Coach Hatcher knows the area well... Our Athletic Department's charge was to go out and hire a head coach that will improve on the progress we made off the field, and have that translate to on-the-field success. I think we have that coach in Chris Hatcher."
The winningest coach in Blazers' history, Hatcher was 76-12 at his alma mater. When Hatcher took over as head coach in 2000, he wasted no time molding the Valdosta State program into the 'Hatch Attack'. In his first year back at VSU, Hatcher took a 4-7 squad the previous year and turned it around to a 10-2 record (8-1 in GSC action) and a berth in the Division II playoffs. He coached quarterback Dusty Bonner who was a two-time winner of the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II Player of the Year, an award Hatcher won himself in 1994.
His 2001 and 2002 teams posted back-to-back undefeated records during the regular season, part of a Gulf South Conference record 35 straight victories during the regular season.
During the 2004 championship season, the Blazers lost their season-opener before rattling off 13 consecutive victories, capped by a 36-31 victory over Pittsburg State in the title game. Hatcher was named 'National Coach of the Year' by the American Football Coaches Association and was the offensive coordinator for the East squad at the Hula Bowl.
In 2005, Valdosta opened the season ranked No. 1 for four straight weeks and saw the season culminate with a sixth-straight NCAA postseason appearance. Despite an 8-2 record in 2006, the 10th-ranked Blazers did not receive an invitation to the playoffs marking the first time that occurred in the Hatcher era.
The 2006 team finished sixth nationally in passing offense (283 yards per game), 12th in scoring offense (34.9 ppg) and 19th in total offense (389.9 yards). However, Hatcher's teams have been successful in all three facets. The 2006 defense ranked 27th nationally in scoring defense (15.7 points allowed) while the special teams ranked third in punt returns (17.3 yards) and blocked seven kicks.
The Macon (Ga.) native spent one year as quarterbacks/tight ends coach at the University of Central Florida where he worked with Miami Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper, then three years working with the quarterbacks at the University of Kentucky where he worked under former VSU head coach Hal Mumme. During his time with the Wildcats he coached the No. 1 NFL draft pick, All-America quarterback Tim Couch. While at UK, Hatcher and the Wildcats played in the 1999 Outback Bowl, the program's first New Year's Day Bowl in 47 years, then followed that the following year with a berth in the '99 Music City Bowl. It marked the first time the Wildcats had consecutive bowl appearances in 15 years.
After his playing days, Hatcher worked as a student assistant coach in 1995 at Valdosta State. While there he coached All-America quarterback Lance Funderburk, a runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy.
Hatcher's success as a player helped him develop into one of the nation's winningest coaches. A two-time All-America quarterback at VSU (1993 and 1994), Hatcher threw for 11,363 yards and 121 touchdowns during his stellar career. During his senior year in 1994 he led the Blazers to their first-ever postseason berth, advancing to the quarterfinals, and when it was all said and done set 29 VSU passing and total offense records.
Among the national records he once set were a 68.5 career completion percentage and streak of 20 straight completions in a game against New Haven. Hatcher held 14 Valdosta State, 13 Gulf South Conference and 17 Division II national records. He also started 41 consecutive games, posting a 29-10-2 record.
Not only did Hatcher excel on the field, he was just as successful in the classroom. Twice he received the Gulf South Conference's Commissioner's Trophy which is awarded to the league's Most Outstanding Student-Athlete. He finished his senior year by winning several national honors including: the NCAA Top Eight Award, the CoSIDA Academic All-America National Player of the Year and a postgraduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.
At the time when Hatcher won the Harlon Hill Trophy, he won by the second-largest voting margin in the then 19-year history of the award. Hatcher was also voted to the GSC Football team of the 1990s.
The honors continued to add up even after his playing days. Hatcher was named to the Valdosta State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, in his first year of eligibility. The personable head coach was also elected into the Macon Sports Hall of Fame that same year.
Hatcher graduated from Valdosta State in 1995. He and his wife Lori, also a graduate of VSU, are the parents of a son, Ty and daughter, Talley.
EXPERIENCE: 3rd YEAR ON GSU STAFF
HATCHER COACHING RECORD
Year Record Final Ranking Postseason
2000 10-2 (.833) 9th (AFCA) NCAA Playoffs
2001 12-1 (.923) 4th (AFCA) NCAA Playoffs Quarterfinals
2002 14-1 (.933) 2nd (AFCA) NCAA National Runner-Up
2003 10-2 (.833) 7th (AFCA) NCAA Playoffs
2004 13-1 (.929) 1st (AFCA) NCAA National Champions
2005 9-3 (.750) 14th (AFCA) NCAA Playoffs
2006 8-2 (.800) 10th (AFCA)
2007 7-4 (.636) 17th (SN)
2008 6-5 (.545) 38th (SN)
Totals 89-21 (.809)
Six NCAA Playoff appearances;
Two National Championship Game appearances
2004 National Champion
AWARDS AND HONORS
2004 AFCA National Coach of the Year
Johnny Vaught Coach of the Year
Macon Touchdown Club Coach of the Year
Atlanta Touchdown Club Coach of the Year
Offensive Coordinator for East squad at the Hula Bowl
NCAA Division II National Champions
2002 AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year
Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year
Schutt Sports National Coach of the Year
Atlanta Touchdown Club Coach of the Year
2001 AFCA Region 2 Coach of the Year
Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year
Atlanta Touchdown Club Coach of the Year
2000 Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year
Schutt Sports National Coach of the Year
Atlanta Touchdown Club Coach of the Year
