New DC Charlton Warren is Ready to Embrace His New Challenge

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Kane Wommack helped lead one of the more exciting defenses in the country during the 2020 season. The Indiana Hoosiers had a nation-best 17 interceptions on the year and helped IU to a 6-1 regular season record before losing in the Outback Bowl. The on-field success for the defense helped Wommack land the head coaching job at South Alabama and Tom Allen was tasked with finding a new leader for his defense.

“I was not looking for somebody to bring his defense to Indiana and install it,” Allen told the media earlier this week. “That is not what we are doing here. We have a system (the 4-2-5) that we believe in.”

The search was on for an individual that “understood that and embraced that and was excited about that” but also for a coach that could help Indiana continue to “modify, mold, build and grow”. Tom Allen did not have to think long before locking on the defensive backs coach at the University of Georgia, Charlton Warren. Warren has sixteen years of coaching under his belt and has had stops at the University of Florida, the University of Tennessee, the University of North Carolina, the University of Nebraska and his alma mater, the United States Air Force Academy. Tom Allen brought Warren in for an interview and liked everything he heard.

“I have a lot of respect for where he has been and the man that he is,” Allen said.

It’s not easy for Indiana University to lure a coach from a blueblood like the University of Georgia but IU’s administration invested in football with a big-money hire and the opportunity to help lead a defense and work with Tom Allen was enough to convince Charlton Warren that Bloomington was the right next step for his career.

“I am humbled Coach Allen has given me the opportunity to lead this awesome group of young men as Indiana University’s defensive coordinator. I cannot wait to help this team achieve greatness on and off the field,” Warren said.

In addition to being the defensive coordinator, Warren will be the position coach for the linebackers. That’s a group that returns All-American Micah McFadden as well as several 2020 contributors. It is a lot of responsibility, particularly for someone that does not have an abundance of experience in the 4-2-5 defense. That’s not a concern for Tom Allen as he will continue to invest his time in something he loves, developing a defense.

“I definitely will be more involved in the beginning. I will be hands on, but that’s how I am,” Allen said.