Chad Staggs joined the Georgia State football staff as defensive coordinator in March 2023 after four seasons in the same role at Coastal Carolina.
The veteran coordinator helped the Chanticleers go 31-7 over the last three seasons and served as interim head coach for the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl.
The 2020 Broyles Award semifinalist brings coordinator experience at multiple levels of college football from stops at North Greenville (D-III), Delta State (D-II), Charleston Southern (FCS), and Furman (FCS) before joining the Coastal Carolina staff in 2019.
“We’re thrilled to be able to add someone with Chad Staggs’ experience and talents as our defensive coordinator,” seventh-year head coach Shawn Elliott said. “I’ve know Chad for a long time, and he is someone I trust and respect. I’m happy to welcome Chad and his family to Georgia State University and our football program.”
Staggs went to Coastal Carolina as the linebackers coach in February 2019 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in July of 2019. He also coached the inside linebackers in 2019-20 and the safeties in 2021-22.
In 2020, Staggs’ defense played a pivotal role in the Chanticleers' 11-1 season, Sun Belt Conference title and national rankings that reached as high as No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25. The CCU defense ranked No. 19 in FBS in scoring defense, No. 31 in total defense, No. 16 in pass efficiency defense and No. 9 in turnover margin.
Staggs helped mentor three All-Americans on defense in Tarron Jackson, a consensus first-team selection in 2020, as well as C.J. Brewer (2020), and Josaiah Stewart (2021). Jackson, also a finalist for the Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
In 2021, Staggs' unit ranked in the Top 25 of FBS in total defense and scoring defense, led by All-American Josiah Stewart who ranked fifth in the nation with 12.5 sacks as true freshman.
Staggs went to Coastal in 2019 after two years as Furman’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach from 2017-18. In 2018, he helped the Paladins earn a share of the 2018 Southern Conference championship by winning six of their final seven games.
He mentored freshman bandit Adrian Hope, who led the FCS in sacks, earned All-America honors and was a finalist for the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award,as the top freshman in FCS.
In 2017, Staggs defense led the SoCon with 34 sacks to help the Paladins to an 8-5 record, the program’s first FCS playoff berth since 2013, and a consensus No. 20 final ranking in the FCS poll.
Prior to his two years at Furman, Staggs served as the defensive coordinator for four seasons at Charleston Southern, including two seasons tutoring the linebackers and two with the defensive backs. His defenses played a major role in the Buccaneers winning 35 games, claiming two Big South Conference Championships and earning Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff berths in both 2015 and 2016.
His CSU defenses produced some impressive statistics, ranking seventh nationally in total defense in 2016 and ninth in 2015.
In Staggs’ first season as defensive coordinator in 2013, the Bucs posted a 10-3 record and a No. 22 final FCS national ranking, highlighted by a 27-24 road win at Appalachian State.
Staggs served as defensive coordinator at Delta State for the 2012 season after working in the same capacity at North Greenville for three years from 2009-11. In his third season on the Crusaders’ staff, he added the title of assistant head coach and was a central figure in North Greenville’s run to the 2011 NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinals.
He had a brief stint at Charleston Southern in 2008, coaching the Buccaneers’ secondary while also assisting with special teams.
He spent five seasons as a graduate assistant at South Carolina (2003-07) under former national championship head coaches Steve Spurrier and Lou Holtz, working with the secondary and linebackers, as well as the scout team.
Staggs began his coaching career as an assistant at Lexington (S.C.) High School from 2000-02.
He graduated from USC Upstate in 2000 with a degree in math education and also holds a master’s degree in hotel, restaurant, and tourism management from the University of South Carolina.
He and his wife, Kelli, have two children, Gracie and Jack.
