 "Photo: AP")
 "Photo: AP")
Iowa State announced their new head coach Monday.
It's Texas' defensive coordinator.
Gene Chizik will replace Dan McCarney at the helm of the Cyclones after spending two years with the Longhorns. During that time he had a national championship and ran up his personal win streak to 29 games. With Auburn in 2004, he was named the Broyles Award winner as the top assistant in the nation.
"We really appreciate the job Gene has done for us the past two years. He brought some fresh ideas, great energy and enthusiasm, and a tireless work ethic to our program," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "You won't find anyone in our program that has anything but great things to say about Gene. He's a bright, young coach who has a tremendous future ahead of him. He'll do a terrific job for Iowa State."
That he did an excellent job at Auburn in 2004 and in 2005 can't be disputed, but the Longhorns have struggled defensively this season. Texas' secondary reached as low as 112th in the nation this year, meanwhile the run defense reached No. 1 nationally - for a week. Texas A&M gained 244 yards on the ground last week in a Texas loss that left them with no hope of getting back into a BCS bowl game.
With the announcement coming just three days after that loss, some Texas fans are scratching their heads about the timing.
Iowa State's Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said during a press conference that the search for a new head coach started several weeks ago, and he spoke with Brown and Texas men's athletics director DeLoss Dodds before hiring Chizik.
"He's the man, if you can get him," Pollard said the pair told him.
Chizik made his first appearance as the head coach with the school's band playing and plenty of cheerleaders and fans in attendance. He made his entrance walking through a smoke-filled tunnel.
"I'm still expecting a rock star or someone to come out behind me," Chizik said.
While settling into his new position, Chizik said that a call to McCarney is one of his top priorities. He wants to use the Cyclone's 12-year coach as a resource.
He's already gone to Brown for advice.
"He said bring a lot of coats," Chizik said. "It's very windy."
He'll need coats for himself as well as his wife and three kids, but with a six-year deal that guarantees $6.75 million and is laden with incentives that could push it up to $10 million, he'll be able to afford the new wardrobe.
"It's been a lifetime professional dream to be the CEO of a football program, and I couldn't be more pleased that Iowa State University is the institution providing me this opportunity," Chizik said. "I've had great mentors to learn from in my career, and I am fully prepared and energized to begin my Cyclone tenure.
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