Warren Replaces Martinez As Vols Secondary Coach

Had Previous Stops at UNC, Nebraska, Air Force

  • Monday, January 16, 2017
  • special to The Chattanoogan.com
photo by Tennessee Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee football program announced Monday that Charlton Warren has agreed to terms to become the defensive backs coach for the Vols.

Warren served as defensive backs coach at North Carolina the last two seasons and also has spent time on the Nebraska and Air Force coaching staffs.

Willie Martinez will not be returning after serving as defensive backs coach for the Vols the past four seasons.

"We would like to welcome coach Warren, his wife, Jocelyn, and their three children to the Tennessee family,” said Tennessee head football coach Butch Jones. “Coach Warren is a passionate, knowledgeable and driven football coach that has an outstanding history of developing defensive backs on the collegiate level. He also has a great reputation as one of the top recruiters in the country with strong ties to our recruiting areas. We feel extremely fortunate to add someone of his caliber to our coaching staff and our defensive meeting room. 

"I have known Willie Martinez for a long time and have the utmost respect for him as a coach and a person. I want to thank him for all his contributions to the Tennessee program over the past four seasons. Making changes on your staff is never easy, but we feel it’s necessary as we move forward as a program."

The university says Warren agreed to a two-year contract with an annual salary of $450,000, with a $245,000 base salary pay and $205,000 supplemental pay. Warren is expected to sign his contract later this week.

Martinez made $395,000 with a maximum bonus of $93,600. Warren was making $314,650 annually at North Carolina.

Warren joined the North Carolina coaching staff in 2015. UNC posted the 10th-best passing defense in the NCAA in 2016, allowing only 180.8 yards per game through the air. The Tar Heels allowed only 11 passing touchdowns, the fourth-fewest in the NCAA. Senior cornerback Des Lawrence earned third-team All-ACC honors. 

In his first year in Chapel Hill, Warren played a major role for a North Carolina defense that allowed 14.5 fewer points from the previous season, the best improvement of any Power Five program.

UNC also had the most improved pass defense in the country in both pass efficiency and yards per pass attempt. The Tar Heels led the ACC in interceptions, turnovers gained and passes defensed while posting an 11-3 record and earning a berth in the ACC Championship Game. 

Warren spent the 2014 season as the secondary coach at Nebraska. Under Warren’s direction, the Huskers ranked fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense and 32nd in passing yards allowed. The Huskers ranked second nationally in completion percentage (48.5 pct.), 13th in yards per passing attempt (6.1) and 19th in touchdown passes (15). 

Prior to joining Nebraska, Warren began his coaching career at his alma mater, Air Force, where he spent nine seasons beginning in 2005. He spent three seasons as secondary coach/recruiting coordinator, three seasons as co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach/recruiting coordinator before he was promoted to associate head coach/defensive coordinator in 2012. 

Warren earned a reputation as the Falcons’ top recruiter and was a part of six bowl games in nine seasons. In 2011, the Air Force pass defense ranked third in the NCAA in passing yards allowed at 166.8 yards per game and was second in 2010 by allowing 147.8 yards per game.

The 2009 Falcons defense ranked seventh nationally with 20 interceptions and led the nation in turnover margin. The 2009 Falcons defense also ranked in the top 20 nationally in passing yards allowed (5th), total defense (11th) and pass efficiency defense (17th).

In addition to his coaching experience on the collegiate level, Warren participated in the NFL minority internship program in 2007 with the Houston Texans. He spent training camp with the Texans, and assisted with the defensive and special teams units.

Warren graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in human factors engineering and earned his MBA from Georgia College and State University in 2003. He was a three-year letterman at defensive back for the Falcons, helping the program to consecutive 10-win seasons in 1997 and 1998, including a 12-1 record and an outright conference title in 1998.

Following his collegiate career, Warren performed his active service as a systems acquisitions manager at both Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. 

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Warren and his wife, Jocelyn, have two daughters, Jayree and Teya, and a son, Chase.

(Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)

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