Start Date: January 2019
Chattanooga Offenses
- Seven different 100-yard rushers in first five campaigns: Ailym Ford (19), Tyrell Price (5), Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks (4), Reggie Davis (4), Gino Appleberry (3), Justus Durant (1) & Lance Jackson (1)
- 2024: Just the ninth Mocs squad all time to record 31-plus points in six or more games. The running game topped 10,000 yards in 61st game under Pizzo's coordination (164.3 ypg). WRs Sam Phillips (2,108) & Javin Whatley (2,105) became the eighth and ninth Mocs to exceed 2,000 receiving yards in a career.
- 2023: Chase Artopoeus threw for 2,672 yards completing 62.8 percent of his passes (187-298) with 20 TDs and seven interceptions in his 10 games behind center. That's the eighth-most yards thrown in a season and tied Cedric Stevens (2004) for sixth in TD passes. Artopoeus and Luke Schomburg (517) combined for 3,189 yards passing. That's the third highest total in school history behind 3,730 in 2000 and 3,591 in 1999. The 8.31 yards per pass is second only to 8.45 in 2022.2022 QB Preston Hutchinson’s 2,723 passing yards ranked fifth on the all-time season list...most since Jacob Huesman '15 in 2014 (2,731).
- 2023: WR Javin Whatley's 11-catch, 231-yard, 4-touchdown performance against Western Carolina ranked tied for second in TD receptions (Terrell Owens vs Marshall, 1994) and fifth in yards. His 353 all-purpose yards (including six rushing and 116 returning) was a new school record.
- 2023: Jamoi Mayes (62-1037), Javin Whatley (55-977) & Sam Phillips (60-624) are first trio since 2004 with 600+ yards each in the same season: Alonzo Nix (819), current assistant Tyrus Ward (660) & Emanuel Hassell (647). It's the most productive since 2000: Richmond Flowers (86-1035), Cos DeMatteo (75-971) & Ronnie Strickland (51-767). 2000 is also the last time a trio collected 50 or more each.
- 2022 offense was top 15 in the FCS in passing yards per completion (14.04) & TFLs allowed (4.55)
- Jacobs Blocking Award Winners: Cole Strange (2020-21, 2021) and McClendon Curtis (2022)
- Walter Payton Award Finalists: Ailym Ford (2022)
- Jerry Rice Award Finalists: Ailym Ford (2019-5th)
- Record Holders: Ailym Ford (1,000-yard seasons: 3), Ford (100-yard games career: 18)
- 2020-21 QB Drayton Arnold was third nationally in yards per completion (15.7)…Hutchinson ranked 13th nationally and SoCon leader for yards per completion (14.04) in 2022
- 2021 offense was first since 2016 to top 200 yards per game on the ground (205.5)
- 2021 offensive line tied school record with just nine sacks allowed
- Top 25 rushing offense nationally in 2019 at nearly 200 yards per game led by true freshman Ailym Ford who led all freshman (FBS/FCS) in yards per game (108.1) topping 1,000 yards (1,081) in 10 games played (9 starts)
- 2019 offensive line ranked 15th nationally in limiting sacks (1.2 game)
NFL Mocs
- 2023 OL Griffin McDowell signed an UDFA deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
- 2022 OL McClendon Curtis signed a UDFA deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. He was picked up later in the year by Seattle.
- 2019-21 OL Cole Strange was a first round NFL Draft pick of the New England Patriots
- 2019 QB Nick Tiano capped stellar career signing with Houston Texans after MVP honors at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl
FCS Rimington Award (Top Center in the Nation)
2024: Reid Williams
All-Americans at Chattanooga
2024: Reid Williams (3rd)
2023: WR Javin Whatley (2nd), OL Reid Williams (3rd)
2022: McClendon Curtis (1st), Ailym Ford (3rd), Reid Williams (Sophomore), Bryce Goodner (Freshman), Sam Phillips (Freshman), Javin Whatley (Freshman)
2021: Cole Strange (1st), Ailym Ford (Sophomore)
2019: Ailym Ford (Freshman)
Southern Conference Player of the Year
2022: McClendon Curtis (Jacobs Blocking)
2021: Cole Strange (Jacobs Blocking)
2020-21: Cole Strange (Jacobs Blocking)
All-Southern Conference
2024: RB Reggie Davis (1st), WR Sam Phillips (1st), DT Marlon Taylor (1st), WR Javin Whatley (2nd), OL Reid Williams (1st)
2023: Jamoi Mayes (1st), Reid Williams (2nd), Griffin McDowell (2nd), Javin Whatley (2nd)
2022: McClendon Curtis (1st), Ailym Ford (1st), Reid Williams (2nd), Bryce Goodner (Freshman), Sam Phillips (Freshman), Javin Whatley (Freshman)
2021: McClendon Curtis (1st), Ailym Ford (1st), Cole Strange (1st), KeShawn Toney (Freshman)
2020-21: OL McClendon Curtis (1st), WR Reginald Henderson (2nd), OL Cole Strange (2nd)
2019: RB Ailym Ford (1st), TE Chris James (1st), WR Bryce Nunnelly (1st), OL Cole Strange (2nd)
Prior Experience
- Mercer, Offensive Coordinator, 2018
- North Greenville, Offensive Coordinator, 2013-17
- North Carolina A&T, Offensive Coordinator, 2011-12
- Gardner-Webb, Offensive Coordinator, 1997-2010
- Charlotte Rage (Arena), Offensive Coordinator, 1992-93
- Mars Hill, Offensive Assistant, 1988-89
Playoffs/Bowl Game
- 2023 FCS Playoffs (2nd Round)
- 2014 Victory Bowl (North Greenville)
Coaching Highlights Pre-Chattanooga
- Mercer offense averaged 30.6 points per game despite playing three different QBs due injury issues
- That trio ranked 20th nationally averaging 14.2 yards per completion … red zone offense was third nationally scoring 92.1 percent of its entries
- North Greenville QB Nelson Hughes had 68 passing touchdowns & 8,502 passing yards in his career
- Led Crusaders to an average of 408.2 total yards of offense over five seasons
- Helped Hughes & his successor, Will Hunter, combine for three 3,000+ passing yard seasons
- 2011 N.C. A&T offense produced the school’s first 2,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher & 1,000-yard receiver in a single season
- 2011 MEAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year (Mike Mayhew)
- Five of his 10 QBs at Gardner-Webb ranked in the school’s top 10 in passing yards
- All-America QB Jeremy Martin threw for more than 8,000 yards and 60 TDs in his GW career
- Williams Andrews set the Bulldogs school record for receiving yards during his tenure
Personal
Wife: Dana
Hometown: Los Altos, Calif.
Children: Stetson (daughter)
Collegiate Career
Alma Mater: Mars Hill ‘87
Sports Played: Football
- Mars Hill Athletic Hall of Fame (2007)
- 1985 All-America & South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year
- Led Mars Hill to 1985 SAC Championship
- Finished career with school record in passing attempts in a game (49), TD passes in a season (16) and total offense in a season (2,080)
- Started collegiate career at Nevada
Professional Career
- Signed free agent contracts with Pittsburgh Steelers (1987) and Indianapolis Colts (1991)
- Also played professionally with Cleveland, Detroit & Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks (World League of American Football)
