Oregon State targeting Rod Chance as defensive backs coach, per report

The Oregon State Beavers are trying to reel in Rod Chance for their defensive backs coach position, according to Matt Zenitz of 247sports. He was previously the defensive backs coach with the Colorado Buffaloes, Oregon Ducks, and the Minnesota Golden Goophers.

Former Beavers head coach Jonathan Smith moved onto become the head man for the Michigan State Spartans this offseason. The new head coach for Oregon State is Trent Bray, one of the most decorated defensive players in program history.

Chance has coached at several different schools across the college football landscape over the past 15 years: Oregon, Minnesota, Southern Utah, Vanderbilt, and Rhode Island. He even spent a brief stint in the high school coaching ranks at Alpharetta High School (Alpharetta, Georgia). When he spent time with Alpharetta (2009-2012), he coached the defensive backs, wide receivers, and special teams.

Some of the more prominent players Chance has coached over the years are former Oregon star Thomas Graham, who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He also coached Jevon Holland, a former Oregon safety who was picked in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

In his one season with Minnesota, Chance helped guide the Gopher defense to finish ninth nationally in pass defense in 2019. Their team finished 11-2 that year, tied for the Big Ten West Division title, and they defeated the Auburn Tigers in the Outback Bowl. Minnesota finished the season ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press Poll, the program’s highest ranking since 1962.

Chance also worked with the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, where he was their defensive coordinator for 2016 and 2017. In 2017, his defensive unit ranked third in the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense and forced 29 turnovers (including 15 interceptions).

His first coaching opportunity in the college coaching ranks came with the Rhode Island Rams, his alma mater. During his playing days with the Rams, he was a four-year starter, finishing with 108 tackles, 11 interceptions, and nine pass deflections. In 2005, he was voted as Rhode Island’s Defensive Back of the Year.

Chance hails from the state of Florida (Fort Lauderdale) and he played his high school football for St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the more famed programs in the Sunshine state. Not only did he play football there, but he also lettered in track and basketball.