New Defensive line coach hired

[InTheZone]

It's Dana Chambers from YSU. I know I jumped the gun on the LB's coach, but Mark Criner really was the man before Minnesota came in a took him out from under us.

[Dr Z]

Thanks ITZ Dana ChambersAssistant CoachSecond Season(Central Missouri State, 1983) No stranger to Division I-AA or Gateway Football, Dana Chambers is in his second season as a member of the Youngstown State coaching staff. Chambers is the Penguins' defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator along with Mike Kolakowski. Last season, Chambers was part of a defensive staff that changed from a 3-4 to a 4-3 scheme to take advantage of the squad's quickness. The unit improved throughout the season and helped the team win two of its final three games. As a result of the new system, defensive end Brandon Brown was named honorable-mention All-Gateway. Chambers has spent eight years on the Division I-AA level, including five in the Gateway. He spent four years as the defensive line coach at Southwest Missouri State and three as an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois. Before coming to YSU, Chambers was part of an Upper Iowa program in 2003, which moved up to Division II status after competing at the Division III level. Chambers spent four seasons on Randy Ball's staff working with the Bears from 1999-2002 as the defensive line coach. Under Chambers, SMS had three All-Gateway defensive-line selections in his four campaigns. While on the Bears' coaching staff he took part in the NFL's Minority Coaching Fellowship Program spending the 2001 training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He worked closely with the defensive line during his internship. He joined SMS in 1999 after spending two years at Roosevelt High School in St. Louis, Mo. At Roosevelt, he served on the staff in many capacities as the defensive coordinator, defensive line, offensive line and special teams coach. Prior to taking his position at Roosevelt, he was a mainstay on the coaching staff at Western Michigan. Chambers spent 10 seasons with the Broncos program from 1987-1997. During his tenure, he served as the defensive ends coach, defensive line coach and special teams coordinator. From 1991-97, he coached the defensive linemen and was in charge of special teams while from 1987-1991 he was the coach of the defensive ends. At Western Michigan, Chambers worked with the Broncos' defensive ends his first four years with the program and spent his final six seasons as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator, all under Coach Al Molde. Chambers began his coaching career at the collegiate level as he worked the 1983 season as a student assistant coach at Central Missouri State, working with the outside linebackers. After a year at Centaurus High School in Lafayette, Colo., as assistant football and basketball coach, Chambers moved with Molde to Eastern Illinois in 1984. There, Chambers spent three seasons working with the Panthers' outside linebackers. A native of Fulton, Mo., he was a three-sport standout at Fulton High, competing in football, basketball and track and earning all-state honors on the gridiron. Chambers played two years at Highland (Kan.) Community College and finished his career at Central Missouri State, serving as team captain his senior year. He earned a Physical Education degree from CMSU in 1983. Chambers and his wife Amy have three children, Dana Jr., LaQuisha and Parker. Dana is a cousin of former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Bake McBride.

[zipboy]

Didn't Chambers replace Terrell Williams at YSU?

[GP1]

This guy coached under John Heacock at YSU so that is a plus to me. John and my brother coached together at a small school in West Virginia called West Liberty State a long time ago. John has a GREAT defensive mind and if this new coached was able to absorbe some of John's knowledge, he will do a great job for us.

[liljc]

Well, there are big shoes to fill. The D-Line was playing pretty well at the end of last season. Kiki, Reid and White were spending a lot of time in the opponent's backfields.