Career
Chaney currently serves as the offensive coordinator for the University of Georgia. Chaney previously served in the same capacity at the University of Arkansas from 2012 to 2014 and University of Tennessee from 2009 to 2012, assuming the role of interim head coach for the final game of the 2012 season after Derek Dooley was fired. Chaney served as the offensive coordinator and multiple other assistant positions for other notable National Collegiate Athletic Association football programs such as: Purdue, Wyoming, Cal State Fullerton, and Western Michigan.
Between 2006 to 2009, he served as an assistant coach for the Saint Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL), working with the offensive line and tight ends.
Chaney was brought to Tennessee in 2009 by Lane Kiffin. After the hiring of Derek Dooley in January 2010, it was confirmed that Chaney would remain at Tennessee as the offensive coordinator.
Tennessee named Chaney interim head coach on November 18, 2012, after it fired Dooley. While at Purdue, Chaney, along with head coach Joe Tiller, became known for using the spread offense – famously dubbed "basketball on grass" – at a time when it was still considered a novelty and not commonly used.
The system relied on a strong passing game and Chaney"s offense was one of the most potent in the country.
This was evidenced by the fact that future Super Bowl-winning quarterback Drew Brees (starting QB 1997-2000) thrived in Chaney"s offense and went on to break and set college, Big Ten and National Collegiate Athletic Association records. lieutenant should be noted however that Drew Brees played under him at Purdue while he was the Offensive Lincolnshire and Tight Ends Coach. When Urban Meyer took his first coaching job at Bowling Green, he sought advice from several of the best coaches using the spread offense, including Jim Chaney.
After spending a few years in the NFL Chaney gained a newfound appreciation for the pro-style offense.
When Chaney came to Tennessee he and Kiffin fielded a very pro-style offense, very similar to what Kiffin used at University of Southern California. Tennessee currently runs a read-option offense primarily run from the shotgun formation. Chaney was born on January 12, 1962.
