Chris Kapilovic - Football Coach

Chris Kapilovic

Title:
Offensive Line
Phone:
205-348-3600

Personal Information

Hometown: Phoenix, Ariz.
Education: Missouri State, 1990
Spouse: Fiona
Children: Carsen, Colin
Birthday: November 11

Coaching Experience

2024-present: Alabama (OL)
2020-23: Michigan State (AHC/OL/RGC)
2019: Colorado (OL/RGC)
2016-18: North Carolina (AHC/OC/OL)
2014-15: North Carolina (Co-OC/OL)
2012-13: North Carolina (OL/RGC)
2010-11: Southern Miss (OL/RGC)
2008-09: Southern Miss (OL)
2006-07: Missouri State (OL/RGC)
2003-05: Alabama State (OC/OL)
1999-00: Kansas (GA)
1998: Phoenix College (OL)
1992-97: Deer Valley (Ariz.) HS (OL)
1991: Missouri State (SA)

Regarded as one of the top offensive line coaches in the nation, Chris Kapilovic was added to Kalen DeBoer's Alabama staff in the spring of 2024 to direct the offensive line.

Kapilovic (pronounced kuh-pill-uh-vick) owns more than 30 years of coaching experience, including roles as an offensive coordinator and/or run game coordinator at Southern Miss (2008-11), North Carolina (2012-18), Colorado (2019) and Michigan State (2020-23). He has coached multiple NFL players, first-round picks and record-setting offenses during his career.

Alabama - Offensive Line (2024-Present)

In his first season in Tuscaloosa, Kapilovic significantly improved the Crimson Tide up front
He inherited a group that allowed 49 total sacks, or 3.50 per game, in 2023 and cut that number down by more than half with the '24 unit allowing only 24 sacks for an average of 1.85 per game
The Tide's 2024 line was highlighted by All-Americans Tyler Booker and Parker Brailsford along with all-conference honoree Kadyn Proctor
Booker led the group with 92 knockdown blocks (7.1 per game) across his team-high 778 total snaps and allowed just half a sack all year while grading out at a 92.3 percent across 13 starts, including 12 at left guard and one at left tackle

Michigan State - Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator (2020-23)

Worked at Michigan State from 2020-23, serving as assistant head coach and run game coordinator in addition to his duties with the offensive line
While in East Lansing, Kapilovic guided left guard J.D. Duplain and center Nick Samac to honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades in 2022
The '22 unit ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 34th in the FBS after allowing just 1.50 sacks per game
Kapilovic's line was a key ingredient to MSU's school-record turnaround in 2021 in which the Spartans finished 11-2 overall, won the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl over No. 12 Pittsburgh and finished ranked No. 8 (coaches) and No. 9 (AP) in the national polls
The o-line helped pave the way for Doak Walker Award winner, Walter Camp Player of the Year and unanimous All-American Kenneth Walker III, who led the Big Ten and ranked No. 2 in the FBS with 1,636 rushing yards (136.3 ypg) and 18 rushing touchdowns
The Spartans' 2021 line was a Joe Moore Award semifinalist after allowing just 1.62 sacks per game, the fourth-fewest in the Big Ten and 27th in the FBS
In 2020, Michigan State's offensive line helped spur an offense that ranked 10th nationally in red zone offense

Colorado - Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator (2019)

Spent one season at Colorado directing the offensive line while also serving as the run game coordinator
The Buffaloes gave up the third-fewest sacks in the Pac-12 and averaged 1.75 sacks per game allowed
Arlington Hambright earned honorable mention all-conference honors and was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears

North Carolina - Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line (2016-18) | Co-OC/OL (2014-15) | OL/Run Game Coordinator (2012-13)

Served in multiple roles across his time at North Carolina from 2012-18
Coached the offensive line all seven seasons while also serving as the run game coordinator for UNC his first two seasons (2012-13), co-offensive coordinator for the next two years (2014-15), and as associate head coach and offensive coordinator his final three seasons (2016-18)
Kapilovic was part of an offensive unit that established numerous school records, including points per game (40.6 ppg in 2012, 40.7 ppg in 2015) and total offense (485.6 ypg in 2012, 486.9 ypg in 2015)
The Tar Heels ranked eighth in the FBS in scoring offense in 2012 and ninth in 2015
UNC also set school records for the most passing yards for five straight years from 2012-16, peaking at 293.2 yards per game in 2016
The 2018 squad allowed just 10 sacks all season, the fourth-fewest in the FBS, and owned a 0.91 sacks allowed per game mark ranked seventh-best in the country
In 2016, the Tar Heel offense, led by quarterback Mitch Trubisky, set the school passing yards mark for the fifth season in a row
Trubisky was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and was one of 10 Tar Heels to either be drafted or signed by an NFL team during Kapilovic's tenure in Chapel Hill
During the 2015 season, North Carolina posted an 11-3 record and won the ACC Coastal Division to finish at No. 15 in the national polls
The Tar Heels led the nation in yards per play (7.28) and were ninth in scoring offense (40.7 ppg)
Kapilovic's offensive line was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award as UNC averaged a school record 6.0 yards per carry and ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed
In 2012, three Tar Heel offensive linemen were drafted, led by guard Jonathan Cooper (No. 7 overall by Arizona), along with tackle Brennan Williams (third round by Houston) and guard Travis Bond (seventh round by Minnesota)

Southern Miss - Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator (2010-11) | OL (2008-09)

Coached four seasons at Southern Miss from 2008-11, directing the offensive line from 2008-09 while adding run game coordinator to his responsibilities from 2010-11
Kapilovic's offensive lines in Hattiesburg paved the way for school records in total offense three times, with a high of 6,459 in his final season
The Golden Eagles gained over 5,000 yards in all four seasons, including over 2,000 rushing yards each year

Additional Coaching Experience

Worked at his alma mater, Missouri State, from 2006-07 where he coached the offensive line and served as the run game coordinator
Spent the 2003-05 seasons at Alabama State as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach
Served as a graduate assistant at Kansas from 1999-2000
Coached the offensive line and worked as the strength coach for Phoenix College during the 1998 campaign
Started his professional career as the offensive line coach at Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Ariz.
Worked the 1991 season as a student assistant coach at Missouri State

Playing Career

Graduated from Missouri State in 1990 with a degree in education
Lettered in 1989 and 1990 as an offensive tackle at MSU, earning first team All-Gateway Conference honors in his senior season
The Bears won the Gateway Conference title both seasons and qualified for the Division I-AA playoffs with Kapilovic on the roster
Played two seasons at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College prior to transferring to Missouri State
Graduated from Gerard Catholic High School in Phoenix, Ariz., where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball