Gene Chizik

College football coach Gene Chizik was hired to replace Tommy Tuberville as the head coach of the Auburn Tigers football team on December 13, 2008. Chizik previously served as head coach for the Iowa State Cyclones.ESPN.com: Auburn to Name Chizik as Coach

Chizik did not receive a warm welcome from some Auburn fans and alumni. Former NBA star and Auburn graduate Charles Barkley spoke out that he disagreed with the decision to hire Chizik, saying that "Out of all the coaches they interviewed, Chizik probably had the worst resume."ESPN.com: Charles Barkley Outraged by Auburn Tigers' Hiring of Gene Chizik

Chizik began his coaching career at Seminole High School in Florida where he served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 1986 and 1987. He also coached while attending college, as an outside linebackers coach with the Clemson Tigers. After earning his masters at Clemson, Chizik took an assistant coaching position with the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, working with the Blue Raiders in 1990 and 1991, winning the Ohio Valley Conference championship in 1990. He then moved to Stephen F. Austin State University, where he was the assistant coach, linebackers coach and defensive coordinator over six years.Iowa State Cyclones: Gene Chizik

In 1998, Chizik took a position with the Central Florida Golden Knights as a defensive coordinator and coach of linebackers and secondary. After three years, Chizik left Central Florida to become the defensive coordinator with the Auburn Tigers. He held that position until 2004 when he was offered an assistant coaching job with the Texas Longhorns. He helped Texas win the national championship in 2005. Chizik left the Longhorns in 2007 to become the head coach for the Iowa State Cyclones.Iowa State Cyclones: Gene Chizik

• ESPN Video: Chizik feels he is right man; Barkley disagrees (Time: 0:56)

• SI.com: Chizik Has Zero Chance to Succeed (December 16, 2008)

• <p>NBC13.com (Alabama): Auburn Interviews Gene Chizik (December 12, 2008)

• FanHouse: Gene Chizik Rearranges Deck Chairs... Puts Out 'Now Hiring' Sign (December 1, 2008)

• ESPN.com: Chizik Leaves Longhorns Staff to Coach Iowa State (November 27, 2006)

• Google News: Gene Chizik Search

• Coaches Hot Seat: Gene Chizik