Via UNC press release:
University of North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora announced Monday that Charlton Warren has been hired as UNC’s defensive backs coach. Warren comes to Chapel Hill from Nebraska where he worked with recently hired UNC defensive assistant John Papuchis.
Before his time at Nebraska, Warren spent nine seasons working with the secondary at Air Force, including serving as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator in each of his final six seasons.
"Charlton has earned a reputation as an outstanding teacher and recruiter throughout his coaching career and we’re thrilled to have him join our staff," says Fedora. "I know he will help our student-athletes succeed not only on the field, but in all areas of the student-athlete experience."
Warren played defensive back at Air Force from 1995-98. Fedora was an offensive assistant coach during Warren’s final two seasons with the Falcons.
"I’m excited to join the Carolina staff and be reunited with Coach Fedora," said Warren. "Carolina is an outstanding academic institution that can compete for championships in all sports. I look forward to meeting our students and coaching them this season."
Warren’s secondary impressed in his one season in Lincoln, helping the Huskers rank fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense and 32nd in passing yards allowed. Nebraska ranked second nationally by holding opponents to a 48.5 completion rate, limiting its opponents to a 50 percent completion rate or less in nine of 13 games. The Huskers also allowed an average of only 6.1 yards per passing attempt to rank 13th nationally, and the 15 touchdown passes Nebraska surrendered ranked 19th in the country.
Before arriving in Lincoln, Warren spent nine seasons coaching at Air Force, working directly with the defensive backs all nine years with the Falcons. Warren earned a reputation as the Falcons’ top recruiter and coordinated Air Force’s recruiting efforts for six seasons from 2006 to 2011.
Air Force’s pass defense often ranked among the best in the country, helping the Falcons to six bowl games in Warren’s nine seasons as an assistant coach.
In 2011, the Air Force pass defense ranked third in passing yards allowed per game at 166.8 yards per game and sixth in the country in pass efficiency defense. In 2010, the Falcon secondary was even better, ranking second nationally by allowing just 147.8 passing yards per game. The play of the defensive backfield helped Air Force to a 9-4 record, capped by a victory over Georgia Tech in the Independence Bowl.
The 2009 defense also excelled against the pass under Warren’s direction, helping the team to a trip to the Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force ranked seventh nationally with 20 interceptions, helping the team lead the nation in turnover margin. The 2009 Falcons also ranked in the top 20 nationally in passing yards allowed (fifth), total defense (11th) and pass efficiency defense (17th).
Warren was also a member of the Air Force staff for 2007 and 2008 trips to the Armed Forces Bowl, when the Falcons posted 9-4 and 8-5 records, respectively.
Again, this is part of the wholesale changes to the defensive staff that started with Gene Chizik replacing Vic Koenning. Warren has his work cut out for him given the Tar Heel secondary has been incredibly porous for a few years running. Blown coverages, cornerbacks with their backs to the ball leading to pass interference and poor tackling angles are just some of the areas Warren will be working to improve for 2015.