Unlike his predecessor, Pitt's Chaney unafraid to push QB Voytik
http://triblive.com/mobile/8110777-96/chaney-voytik-pitt
The story of how a Division II nose guard became a Power 5 offensive coordinator starts with two cases of beer and some thirsty coaches.
When Jim Chaney, now the offensive coordinator at Pitt, exhausted his eligibility at Central Missouri State in 1984, he was seeking a graduate degree in professional sports management.
Central Missouri offensive coordinator Rob Bollinger, who spent many long bus rides talking football with his all-conference nose guard, pointed Chaney toward Cal State Fullerton.
Bollinger, whose son Brooks was Pitt's quarterbacks coach in 2012 and '13, was friends with Fullerton coach Gene Murphy and made a call on Chaney's behalf.
The graduate assistant position offered no pay, but Chaney didn't care. Like many young people, he just wanted a chance.
"I got to California in December of 1984," Chaney said, "and I drove by the office, and they were having a coaching clinic the day I got there.
"I went in and introduced myself to the coach. He said, 'Well, we'd love to have you help out around here. Now your first job, go get those two cases of beer and get them over to the coaching clinic.'
"I was born and raised on a farm in Missouri. My father was a beer drinker. I said, 'I'm going to enjoy this coaching stuff. You get to have a cold beer once in a while.' "
In Chaney's case, he also got to start a career. Three years later, he was Fullerton's offensive coordinator, his first of five such jobs, including stops at Purdue, Tennessee, Arkansas and the past four months at Pitt.
Hiring an offensive coordinator from the SEC might turn out to be coach Pat Narduzzi's most important acquisition. Chaney left Arkansas after only two seasons, but he said the move had nothing to do with that school.
"I just started thinking maybe I ought to look for a change," he said. "See if there is something out there that could put a smile back on my face. Six years in the SEC can take its toll on about anybody. Maybe it did a little bit with me."
How will Chaney's background help Pitt junior quarterback and incumbent starter Chad Voytik? Chaney has worked with several good quarterbacks, including Drew Brees at Purdue, so he can be demanding. That might be just what Voytik needs.
"He's definitely a jokester," Voytik said, "but also on the field, he'll get in your business and let you know what you did wrong."
That runs contrary to former coach Paul Chryst's laid-back style.
"Coach Chryst was more like sitting back and letting you take it and kind of deal with your problems," Voytik said. "But (Chaney) is going to let you know.
"It's a different style I have to get used to, but I think it's good. It's definitely going to put more pressure on me during practice, which hopefully will prepare me for the pressure I'll experience in games."
Chaney said his offense is similar to what Chryst employed at Pitt.
"Paul taught a lot of concepts," he said. "I think the kids have a good understanding of what we're trying to get done."
The difference is Chaney wants his players to be "comfortably uncomfortable" on the field.
"I like to get after them once in a while and see how they'll handle it," he said. "If they just go out to practice and everything is status quo and they have no anxiety, it's not a real game."
Chaney and Voytik have developed a good relationship. In fact, Narduzzi said Voytik is in Chaney's office studying video so often, he wonders if he ever goes to class.
"He's a student of the game," Chaney said. "He loves football. He's passionate about everything he does.
"He has a good personality. I like that. I wish Chad had more confidence in himself to let his personality show a little bit more on the football field. He's really serious all the time, but he has a cute side to him.
"There is a lighter side of sports that goes a long way, and he needs to show that once in a while."
Voytik, who excels in the classroom, wants to do the same on the field.
"He wants to do everything perfect all the time," Chaney said, "and when he doesn't, he gets upset, and I get upset with him, and he gets more upset. He needs to learn to just lighten up and move on and let that play go.
"As he continues to become better and become more familiar with what we're doing, I feel like the real Chad will show up more and more."
http://triblive.com/mobile/8110777-96/chaney-voytik-pitt
The story of how a Division II nose guard became a Power 5 offensive coordinator starts with two cases of beer and some thirsty coaches.
When Jim Chaney, now the offensive coordinator at Pitt, exhausted his eligibility at Central Missouri State in 1984, he was seeking a graduate degree in professional sports management.
Central Missouri offensive coordinator Rob Bollinger, who spent many long bus rides talking football with his all-conference nose guard, pointed Chaney toward Cal State Fullerton.
Bollinger, whose son Brooks was Pitt's quarterbacks coach in 2012 and '13, was friends with Fullerton coach Gene Murphy and made a call on Chaney's behalf.
The graduate assistant position offered no pay, but Chaney didn't care. Like many young people, he just wanted a chance.
"I got to California in December of 1984," Chaney said, "and I drove by the office, and they were having a coaching clinic the day I got there.
"I went in and introduced myself to the coach. He said, 'Well, we'd love to have you help out around here. Now your first job, go get those two cases of beer and get them over to the coaching clinic.'
"I was born and raised on a farm in Missouri. My father was a beer drinker. I said, 'I'm going to enjoy this coaching stuff. You get to have a cold beer once in a while.' "
In Chaney's case, he also got to start a career. Three years later, he was Fullerton's offensive coordinator, his first of five such jobs, including stops at Purdue, Tennessee, Arkansas and the past four months at Pitt.
Hiring an offensive coordinator from the SEC might turn out to be coach Pat Narduzzi's most important acquisition. Chaney left Arkansas after only two seasons, but he said the move had nothing to do with that school.
"I just started thinking maybe I ought to look for a change," he said. "See if there is something out there that could put a smile back on my face. Six years in the SEC can take its toll on about anybody. Maybe it did a little bit with me."
How will Chaney's background help Pitt junior quarterback and incumbent starter Chad Voytik? Chaney has worked with several good quarterbacks, including Drew Brees at Purdue, so he can be demanding. That might be just what Voytik needs.
"He's definitely a jokester," Voytik said, "but also on the field, he'll get in your business and let you know what you did wrong."
That runs contrary to former coach Paul Chryst's laid-back style.
"Coach Chryst was more like sitting back and letting you take it and kind of deal with your problems," Voytik said. "But (Chaney) is going to let you know.
"It's a different style I have to get used to, but I think it's good. It's definitely going to put more pressure on me during practice, which hopefully will prepare me for the pressure I'll experience in games."
Chaney said his offense is similar to what Chryst employed at Pitt.
"Paul taught a lot of concepts," he said. "I think the kids have a good understanding of what we're trying to get done."
The difference is Chaney wants his players to be "comfortably uncomfortable" on the field.
"I like to get after them once in a while and see how they'll handle it," he said. "If they just go out to practice and everything is status quo and they have no anxiety, it's not a real game."
Chaney and Voytik have developed a good relationship. In fact, Narduzzi said Voytik is in Chaney's office studying video so often, he wonders if he ever goes to class.
"He's a student of the game," Chaney said. "He loves football. He's passionate about everything he does.
"He has a good personality. I like that. I wish Chad had more confidence in himself to let his personality show a little bit more on the football field. He's really serious all the time, but he has a cute side to him.
"There is a lighter side of sports that goes a long way, and he needs to show that once in a while."
Voytik, who excels in the classroom, wants to do the same on the field.
"He wants to do everything perfect all the time," Chaney said, "and when he doesn't, he gets upset, and I get upset with him, and he gets more upset. He needs to learn to just lighten up and move on and let that play go.
"As he continues to become better and become more familiar with what we're doing, I feel like the real Chad will show up more and more."
