FLORENCE — Chris Willis has worn a lot of different hats since coming to North Alabama as an assistant football coach in 2002.

Willis has coached tight ends, offensive tackles, linebackers and the secondary. He’s been the Lions’ recruiting coordinator and assistant head coach.

He can now add another title to his resume: Defensive coordinator.

Head coach Bobby Wallace announced that Willis, who has coached the secondary since 2005, will be the Lions’ new defensive coordinator.

“Chris has been here a long time and has paid his dues,” Wallace said. “He knows his X’s and O’s, he has great rapport with the players and he is very organized. I am very confident with him coordinating the defense.”

Wallace said as coordinator, Willis will coach linebackers so that he can work on both run and pass defense.

“It means so much to me that coach Wallace has given me this opportunity,” Willis said. “We sat down and talked earlier in the week about my philosophy and he said it was very similar to what he had in mind. Coach Wallace is a legendary coach, and to be a part of a new chapter with him at UNA is very special.”

Wallace also promoted Blake Farris to a full-time position as secondary coach and gave offensive line coach Scott Harper the additional duties of strength and conditioning coach.

Willis worked under both Mark Hudspeth and Terry Bowden. UNA has a 95-30 record, three GSC titles and eight playoff appearances during his 10 years with the program.

“I feel like I’ve paid my dues,” Willis said. “Each year I’ve been here I’ve grown more accustomed to being at UNA and living in this area. My wife and I both graduated from Delta State, but we love living in Florence. This is home for us.”

The Lions have used a four-man front the past two years, but Willis said he hopes to mix things up this season.

“We won’t really base out of any one look,” Willis said. “We’ll continue to play a four-man front, but I also want to more things with a three-man front.

“The main things that I take pride in defensively are effort and turnovers. We either led the nation or were in the top 10 in turnovers every year under coach (Karl) Morgan. You have to preach forcing turnovers every day in practice, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

Despite losing eight starters, Willis said the defense still has some talented players.

“We have some question marks, especially at linebacker,” he said. “But the cupboard is not bare and I love the guys we signed this week. I can’t wait to get out there for spring practice and get going.”

Farris, a former All-American defensive back at UNA, has been on the Lions’ coaching staff for the past five seasons. He began his as a student assistant and then graduate assistant at UNA. The past two seasons he has coached cornerbacks as a restricted earnings coach.

“Blake is a good young coach that is very knowledgeable about the techniques and fundamentals of defensive backs,” Wallace said. “He was a great player himself and relates well to the players.”

Wallace said he is also excited to have Harper heading up strength and conditioning.

“Putting Scott in that role goes back to my experience with him my last two or three years at West Alabama,” Wallace said. “What he did in the offseason there was about as good as anything I have ever seen. Our players here are already adapting to it and enjoying the hard work and challenge that he has given them.”

Wallace said he expects to add additional coaches to work with the defensive line and running backs before the season.

Jeff McIntyre can be reached at 256-740-5737 or jeff.mcintyre@TimesDaily.com.

UNA football

coaching staff

Cody Gross — Offensive

Coordinator/Quarterbacks

Steadman Campbell — Receivers

Scott Harper — Offensive Line/Strength and Conditioning

Chris Willis — Defensive

Coordinator/Linebackers

Blake Farris — Secondary