Memphis adds Drew Chance as assistant quarterbacks coach

Charles Huff announced most of his staff in December, but on Wednesday, Drew Chance posted on social media that he’s joining the Memphis coaching staff as the assistant quarterbacks coach. 

Chance started his coaching career at West Virginia State University as the Pass Game Coordinator before returning to his alma mater, Illinois College, as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Illinois College, a Division III school, had a 5-4 record before Chance joined the coaching staff, and he helped turn things around in just one season.

The Blueboys improved to 9-2 in his first season on staff, and his offense averaged 47.4 points per game in his first season as offensive coordinator. Illinois College continued to find success in Chance’s second season, going 8-2, and the offense averaged 55.4 points per game.

Chance was named the 2024 FootballScoop Division III coordinator of the year. In his two seasons with the Blueboys, the offense averaged 51.5 points per game, 380 passing yards per game, 102 passing touchdowns, 575 total yards per game, 194.2 rushing yards per game, 36 rushing touchdowns and 91 one-minute touchdown drives.

After two seasons at Illinois College, Chance became the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Bethel University. Bethel struggled in his lone season with the program, and now it looks like he will make the jump to the FBS level.

Chance will join Kevin Decker, who will serve as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Both have shown that they like to run a high-powered offense that puts up a lot of points, and the combination could produce an electric offense.

The Tigers went out into the transfer portal and signed three quarterbacks, including a pair of former four-star prospects. It feels like it will be a quarterback battle between Marcus Stokes and Air Noland for the starting position, and it feels like both will thrive under Chance and Decker.

Memphis also signed Denzel Gardner, who spent his true freshman season at Southern Miss last year, and it’ll be interesting to see how he develops under the new coaching staff.