The University of Akron Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach | Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
- camato@uakron.edu
- Phone:
- (330) 972-7466
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Chuck Amato, in his 45th year in the collegiate coaching ranks, including serving as head coach at North Carolina State and as a long-time assistant coach at Florida State, is in his sixth season on the UA staff in 2017. He serves as the program’s associate head coach and defensive coordinator, and works closely with the linebackers.
In 2016, UA recorded a 5-7 overall record, finishing just one play away from back-to-back bowl appearances. The Zips won their second consecutive Wagon Wheel (and third in last four years) over rival Kent State. The defense recorded 16 sacks, eight interceptions, and six fumble recoveries.   Â
Sophomore linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors. He led the Zips with 122 tackles, including a team-best 65 solo stops, a team-high 11.5 TFL, four sacks, eight hurries, and two forced fumbles. Nationally, Gilbert ranked No. 9 in total tackles (10.2) and No. 23 in solo tackles (5.4).
For just the second time in program history (and first time since 1980), an Akron Zip earned Academic All-America honors. Junior safety Zach Guiser was a first-team selection, while redshirt senior captain James Turner was a second-team honoree. The duo headlined nine Zips on the Academic All-MAC team. Four Zips– Ulysees Gilbert, Guiser, Turner, and Daumantas Venckus– were also awarded Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors from the MAC.
In the spring, two defenders signed rookie free agent contracts with NFL teams– defensive back Larry Hope (Miami) and lineman Jamal Marcus (Cleveland).
In 2015, the Zips’ defense dominated MAC play. Akron’s total defense (331.5) and rushing defense (92.9) led the conference while ranking third nationally. Senior linebacker Jatavis Brown was No. 6 in sacks (0.92) and No. 8 in tackles for loss (1.5). He set the season record for sacks after just 10 games, finishing with 12.0. Junior cornerback DeAndre Scott was No. 7 in total interceptions (6), No. 12 in interceptions per game (0.5) and No. 22 in passes defended (1.3). Â
Brown was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection. Senior nose tackle Cody Grice was a second-team pick, while senior lineman Rodney Coe and junior lineman Jamal Marcus were third-team All-MAC selections.
Jatavis Brown, who competed in the NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl after setting records for TFL (20.0) and sacks (12.0) in a season and 41.5 TFL in his career, became just the 16th Zip in program history (and first-ever linebacker) to be drafted into the NFL. Brown was drafted by the Chargers in the fifth round.  During the summer, defensive lineman Rodney Coe signed as a free agent with Dallas.
In 2014, the Akron defense continued to show it is one of the top squads in the MAC, leading the conference in scoring defense (23.1 ppg) and third-down conversion defense (.368). UA finished the season ranked in the top-40 nationally in eight defensive categories, including red zone defense (22nd, .756), scoring defense (28th, 23.1), tackles for a loss (28th, 4.92 tpg), fourth-down conversion defense (29th, .412), third-down conversion defense (34th, .368), turnovers forced (34th, 24), fumbles recovered (38th, 11) and interceptions (38th, 13). Junior Cody Grice ranked 10th nationally with three fumble recoveries.
Three of the Zips’ four All-MAC selections came from the defensive side of the ball, including junior linebacker Jatavis Brown and junior nose tackle Cody Grice earning first-team All-MAC. Senior defensive lineman Nordly Capi earned second-team honors.
During the summer, three defensive players from the 2014 squad signed with NFL teams, including Nordly Capi (Jacksonville), Justin March-Lillard (Kansas City) and Nmesoma Okafor (Cincinnati).
During the 2013 campaign, Amato’s defense finished third in the MAC, allowing 397.0 yards per game. Four Zip defenders earned All-MAC honors, including Jatavis Brown (first-team), Malachi Freeman (second-team), Justin March (third-team) and Nico Caponi (third-team). In addition to the league honors, three Zips would finish the season ranked in the top-40 in three statistical categories, including passes defended (Freeman, 17th), tackles per game (Brown, 37th) and sacks per game (Caponi, 39th).
In 2012, Amato mentored fifth-year senior transfer linebacker Kurt Mangum, who was selected to compete in the NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl. He led the Zips with 110 tackles and was the squad’s Defensive MVP. Junior LB Connor Seeman and sophomore LB Nick Rossi also earned Academic Honorable Mention from the Mid-American Conference.
Amato is one of the most respected coaches and recruiters in college football and has produced winning football teams and numerous top draft picks throughout his career. In 2002, he was elected to the American Football Coaches Association Board of Trustees.
Amato served as head coach at his alma mater NC State from 2000-06 and posted a 49-37 record while guiding the program to five bowl appearances (4-1 record in those bowl games). He led the Wolfpack to their first 11-win season in school history in 2002 and highest national ranking (No. 12 in the final Associated Press poll; No. 11 in the final Coaches poll) since 1974, after defeating Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl. The 2004 NC State squad led the nation in total defense. Additionally under Amato, quarterback Philip Rivers rewrote the program and ACC record books in every passing and total offense category. During his tenure, he had 22 players drafted into the NFL, including five in the first round.
In 2000, Amato’s NC State squad defeated Minnesota in the MicronPC.com Bowl, in 2001, lost to Pittsburgh in the Tangerine Bowl, in 2003 downed Kansas in the Tangerine Bowl, and in 2006 topped South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
Amato spent 21 seasons on the staff at Florida State (1982-1999 and 2007-09). In his most recent stint (2007-09) he served as executive head coach to then-head coach Bobby Bowden. From 1982-95 he coached the defensive line, 1996-99 the linebackers and from 1986-99 also served as assistant head coach. He was part of 10 ACC championship teams and two national championship squads (1993 and 1999). Six of his Seminole players were selected in the NFL Draft’s first round and 24 defensive players overall that he directly coached were drafted during his FSU tenure.
Amato was also a member of the NC State staff from 1971-79, serving as graduate assistant (1971-72), defensive secondary coach (1973-75) and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach (1976-79). He also coached linebackers at Arizona from 1980-81. His coaching career began at Easton High School in his hometown of Easton, Pa., where he was an assistant coach from 1969-70.
Amato lettered in football (linebacker) and wrestling at NC State, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1969 and master’s degree in education in 1973. The 1965 football team won an ACC co-championship and he was captain of the defense in 1967. He won two ACC titles as a wrestler in 1966 (heavyweight) and 1968 (191-pound weight class).
Amato, 71 (born June 26, 1946), and his wife Peggy have twin daughters, LuGina and Selena, and nine grandchildren. LuGina and her husband Rick have two daughters– Lexi and Lindsay– and twin sons– Giovani and Gabriel. Selena and her husband Dusty have three sons– Sterling, Asher, and Luca– and two daughters– Presley and Bristol.
Amato's Year-By-Year Coaching Experience
1969-70 – Easton (Pa.) High School (assistant coach)
1971-72 – NC State (graduate assistant)
1973-75 – NC State (defensive secondary)
1976-79 – NC State (defensive coordinator | linebackers)
1980-81 – Arizona (linebackers)
1982-95 – Florida State (defensive line)
1996-99 – Florida State (linebackers)
1986-99 – Florida State (assistant head coach)
2000-06 – NC State (head coach) (49-37 record)
2007-09 – Florida State (executive head coach)
2012 to present – Akron (associate head coach | defensive coordinator)
Amato’s No. 1 Draft Picks
Mario Williams (Texans No. 1 overall pick, 2006)
Manny Lawson (49ers No. 1 draft choice, 2006)
John McCargo (Bills No. 1 draft choice, 2006)
Philip Rivers (Giants No. 1 draft choice, 2004)
Koren Robinson (Seahawks No. 1 draft choice, 2001)
Andre Wadsworth  (Cardinals No. 1 draft choice, 1998)
Sam Cowart  (Bills No. 1 draft choice, 1998)
Peter Boulware  (Ravens No. 1 draft choice, 1997)
Reinard Wilson  (Bengals No. 1 draft choice, 1997)
Derrick Alexander (Vikings No. 1 draft choice, 1995)
Alphonso Carreker (Packers No. 1 draft choice, 1984)
