TULSA, Okla. –– University of Tulsa first-year head football coach Kevin Wilson announced today the appointment Chris Polizzi as the school’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

Polizzi comes to Tulsa after spending the past five seasons at Tennessee-Martin, including the past three years as defensive coordinator.

Wilson also announced that linebacker coach Koy McFarland will serve as defensive run game coordinator, Michael Hunter as defensive passing game coordinator and Dominque Franks will continue as quality control coach with the secondary.

“I am excited to have Chris join our program,” said Wilson. “Even though we’re adding Chris late, we tried to do it as seamless as possible to keep the continuity growing with our players. I really liked the direction spring ball went as the kids really bought in to the defense that would be best for us.

“We have good experience with Michael and Dom, both of whom played in the league and have a lot of playing experience but are young in the coaching world. So, I felt that we needed to enhance our group with more experience in the secondary and that’s what Chris brings to us.”

Polizzi’s experience includes coaching at UCLA, Utah, Iowa, Western Carolina, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee-Martin.

“Chris’ background includes coaching at UCLA under Chuck Bullough, Utah with Kyle Whittingham and at Iowa under Phil Parker, who is as good a defensive coach as there is in the country,” added Wilson.

We had a lot of great candidates, but Chris brings the combination of being a great guy, great leader with tremendous knowledge who can blend with what we’re doing and play to our strengths to make it the TULSA defense. Chris is the right fit for our program.”

In 2018, Polizzi began as UT-Martin’s linebacker coach, recruiting coordinator and co-special teams coordinator for kickoff and kickoff return. A year later, he served as assistant head coach and secondary coach and kept those responsibilities when he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020.

At UT Martin, Polizzi helped lead the Skyhawks to back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Championships in 2021 and 2022.

Polizzi mentored 18 all-conference performers at UT Martin, including the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year and consensus All-American John H. Ford II. He also coached All-Americans Daylan Dotson and Oshae Baker during his tenure.

Before joining the UT Martin staff, Polizzi served as an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech for two years (2016-17). While at Tech, he was charged with overseeing the Golden Eagle defensive backs while also serving as the programs recruiting coordinator.

Prior to his stint at Tennessee Tech, Polizzi spent the 2015 season as cornerback coach at Western Carolina. Before that, he was a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Iowa, where he worked with the secondary and helped coach first-team all-Big Ten safety Micah Hyde. Polizzi was a part of the Hawkeyes Outback Bowl team in 2013 and the 2014 Gator Bowl team.

Previously, Polizzi served as a graduate assistant at Utah in 2011 where he coached the tight ends. The Utes entered their first season in the Pac-12 Conference that year, finishing the season with an 8-5 record and a win over Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl.

Polizzi spent two years (2009-10) as a quality control coach at UCLA working with the secondary. The Bruins capped the 2009 season with a win over Temple in the Eagle Bank Bowl.

He began his coaching career at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo, where he coached for four seasons (2005-08).

A native of Great Barrington, Mass., Polizzi and his wife, Kelli, have one daughter, Isabella.