Defensive Coordinator/DB’s
Rhode Island ‘05
2018: Third Season at SUU
Rod Chance joined the Thunderbird football staff after Demario Warren was named Head Coach, and was named Defensive Coordinator prior to the start of the 2016 campaign.
In 2017, Chance’s defense was critical to SUU’s success on the road to becoming Big Sky Conference Champions.
Under the guidance of Chance, three T-Birds from the defensive side of the ball were named First Team All-Conference (Anu Pole’o, Mike Needham and Jarmaine Doubs Jr.) and eight others were named to the various other All-Conference teams. Freshman DB Jalen Russell was also named Freshman All-American by Phil Steele.
Chance’s defense had 15 interceptions, forced eight fumbles and totaled 21 sacks along with 77 tackles for loss during the course of the year in 2017.
Chance spent four seasons with Vanderbilt before making his way to Southern Utah. He has served as a defensive quality control during his Commodore tenure.
During Chance's tenure, the Commodores experienced appearances in two postseason bowl games.
Prior to joining the Commodores, Chance spent several months as cornerbacks coach at the University of Rhode Island.
Chance also coached four seasons at Alpharetta High School north of Atlanta. He was Alpharetta's special teams coordinator, and also coached the defensive backs and wide receivers.
Chance served as the program's academic advisor and recruiting liaison. Following the 2012 season, 12 players from Alpharetta signed national letters of intent with Division I programs, with players going to Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Virginia, Vanderbilt and Texas Christian, among others.
Chance was a four-year starter for the Rhode Island Rams from 2002-05. He finished his career with more than 100 tackles and 11 interceptions.
