Chris Jones - UTEP DL Havoc
by Texas High School Coaches Association
Description
Learn how the UTEP Miners built one of the nation's top defenses around a simple brand: fearless, fast, and physical. Defensive line coach Chris Jones breaks down UTEP's "habit" grade, their measurable standard for defensive havoc, and shows the direct correlation between hitting that weekly goal and winning games, they've won roughly 96% of games since 2021, when they reached it.
You'll get a detailed breakdown of how UTEP creates that havoc up front, studying and attacking the quarterback's snap indicator, the match hands drill for getting hands up on a quarterback's throwing motion, and movement fronts built on the "45-degree step, reach, dip, and rip" technique.
Whether you're building a defensive line room's identity from scratch or looking for a measurable way to track and create defensive havoc, this session delivers a practical, game-tested framework from a coach who has helped build one of the most disruptive defenses in the country.
Enroll now to get full access to this lesson and start building a more fearless, fast, and physical defense.
Lessons
The Coach
Chris Jones
Defensive Line Coach / Defensive Run Game Coordinator, UTEP
Chris Jones is entering his third season as UTEP's defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator, having been hired on December 16, 2023, when Scotty Walden was named head coach. In 2025, UTEP's defensive line accounted for 13.5 of the team's 28 sacks, led by KD Johnson and Elijah Baldwin (3.5 sacks apiece), with Johnson also finishing third among Conference USA defensive linemen in tackles for loss (12.0) and leading all CUSA defensive tackles with 60 tackles. In 2024, Jones's unit helped UTEP post a CUSA-high 36 sacks, with the defensive line alone collecting 26 of them, ranking the Miners in the top 20 nationally in sacks.
Before UTEP, Jones spent three seasons (2021 to 2023) as co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Austin Peay under Walden, helping the Governors win a UAC Championship in 2023 and post top rankings nationally in total defense, scoring defense, and defensive touchdowns. He also spent time at Texas A&M-Kingsville as co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach in 2021, and coached defensive line for a decade (2010 to 2020) at his alma mater, Hardin-Simmons, developing 16 All-American Southwest Conference honorees, including a 2010 conference Defensive Player of the Year and a 2012 D3Football.com All-American who set the program's single-season sack record. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Sam Houston (2008 to 2009) and Hardin-Simmons (2006 to 2007).
A four-year letterman at Hardin-Simmons (2003 to 2006), Jones finished his playing career with nine sacks and 126 tackles, including 22.5 for loss, and earned second-team D3Football.com All-American honors as a senior. He holds a bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science (2008) and a master's degree in Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation (2018), both from Hardin-Simmons.
At a coaching clinic, Jones detailed UTEP's "Orange Swarm" defensive brand and philosophy, presenting statistics and drills consistent with his official record, including the program's emphasis on generating "havoc" (pass breakups, hurries, tackles for loss, sacks, and takeaways) and its Texas-focused recruiting approach, which has produced 69 Texas high school signees over the past three seasons, the most of any FBS program in the state.
Ratings and Reviews (0)
This Course Includes
| 24 hours on-demand video |
| Streaming from mobile and TV |
| Lifetime access |
| Certificate of completion |
| 100% money back guarantee |
Course Info
| Rating: | (0) |
|---|---|
| Caterory: | Football/Defensive Line |
| Duration: | |
| Videos: | 9 |
