NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University Football Head Coach Bobby Wilder has hired Chris Malone as offensive line coach, Wilder announced on Monday.

“Coach Malone is known for having outstanding offensive Line play wherever he has coached. His players are tough, physical, and play with technique. I coached against him when he was at UMass and JMU and always respected the way he coached,” Wilder said. He is also an outstanding recruiter that has a great reputation with the Virginia high school coaches. It is also worth noting he had an outstanding career as an offensive lineman at Virginia Tech starting 47 consecutive games on some very good teams. I know our players will be excited to work with Coach Malone.”

Malone spent the last two seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga, helping the Mocs to the FCS playoffs both seasons. In 2015, Malone coached offensive lineman Corey Levin to FCS All-American honors and his second-straight Jacob's Blocking Award given to the top lineman in the Southern Conference. The Mocs rushed for more than 3,000 yards and had two 1,000 yard rushers. UTC went 9-4 and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs before losing to national runner-up, Jacksonville State.

“I'm excited to be back in the state of Virginia after being gone for a few years. I've known Coach Wilder since my days, we've kept in touch and this was a good fit for me,” Malone said. “ We have a lot of work to do but we have some good young players and I'm ready to get to work with the guys.”

Malone coached at Virginia State in 2013, helping the Trojans to a 9-1 record and a CIAA title.

Prior to that, he worked with the offensive line and was the run game coordinator at James Madison for seven seasons. At JMU, Malone coached Dorian Brooks, a 2009 Third-Team All-America and a free agent signee of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2008, he directed an offensive front that included Rimington Award (nation's top center) winner Scott Lemn and other all-league honorees Brooks, Terrence Apted and Theo Sherman. The Dukes averaged 38.1 points and 282.8 rushing yards per game.



In 2007, Malone coached an offensive front that helped JMU average 33.3 points, 410.0 yards of total offense and 265.1 yards per game rushing. JMU led the CAA in rushing and was seventh nationally, while allowing only six sacks, the fewest in the nation.



Prior to James Madison, Malone coached the offensive line and tight ends at VMI (2005) and the offensive line (2001-04) at UMass. He was a graduate assistant offensive line coach at Virginia Tech from 1999-2000, and was offensive and defensive line coach at Fork Union Military Academy in 1998.



Malone was a four-year starter as an offensive guard at Virginia Tech, making 47 consecutive starts during his career and earning All-Big East Conference honors in 1995.

Malone replaces Bill Dee, who was with ODU for five seasons.