Chad Lunsford joins the Arkansas staff after most recently serving as the special teams coordinator for Auburn in 2025.
Auburn kicker Alex McPherson benefitted from working with Lunsford in his senior season, making a career-best 20 field goals. The Tigers owned one of the better teams units in the Southeastern Conference, allowing just six yards per punt return (5th in SEC) while ranking third in the league with 22.95 yards per kick return, including a kick return for a score.
Lunsford brings a wealth of head coaching experience to the Arkansas staff, having served as head coach at Georgia Southern (2018-21) and as an interim head coach at Florida Atlantic for the final two games in 2024.
While with the Owls, he served as the team’s special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. Punter Logan Lupo was among the best in the American Conference in 2023 and 2024. His 44.5 yards per punt ranked third in 2024 and his 44.1 average was third in 2023. FAU was ranked No. 4 nationally in punt returns in 2023, a 28-spot leap, while the kick return unit moved up 36 spots. Punt returner LaJohntay Wester finished second nationally in punt return touchdowns and was a FWAA First-Team All-American and Wester AAC Special Team Player of the Year and First Team AAC selection.
As the head coach at Georgia Southern, Lunsford went 28-21 taking over as the interim head coach in 2017. In his first full season as the head coach, the Eagles went 10-3 capped by a win in the Camellia Bowl. His first three teams all earned bowl berths with wins in the Camellia Bowl in 2018 and in the New Orleans Bowl in 2020.
Prior to taking over as the head coach at Georgia Southern, Lunsford served as the special teams coordinator (2016), tight ends coach (2014-15) and wide receivers coach (2013). He earned his first SEC experience at Auburn 2009-12 in an off-field role as the Tigers’ Director of Scouting and Player Personnel. The Tigers brought in three of the nation’s top recruiting classes in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
His coaching career started in 1996 as a student assistant at Georgia Military College. He took over the tight ends at Appalachian State for two seasons (2001-02) before his first opportunity at Georgia Southern as the team’s slotbacks coach (2003-05). After stints at Griffin HS (2006) and another at Georgia Military College (2007-08), Lunsford found his way back to Georgia Southern in 2013 as the wide receivers coach.
Lunsford is married to the former Tiffany “Tippy” Hyde, the couple has three children – Sophie, Rhett and Josie.
The Lunsford File
Birthdate: February 24, 1977
Hometown: Elberton, Ga.
High School: Elbert County HS
College: Georgia College, 2000
Family: Wife – Tiffany “Tippy”; Daughters – Sophie and Josie; Son – Rhett
Coaching Experience
1996 Georgia Military – Student Assistant
1997-99 Georgia Military – Running Backs
2000 Georgia Military – Running Backs/Linebackers
2001-02 Appalachian State – Tight Ends
2003-05 Georgia Southern – Slotbacks
2006 Griffin HS (Ga.) – Linebackers
2007-08 Georgia Military – Special Teams/Linebackers
2009-12 Auburn – Director of Scouting and Player Personnel
2013 Georgia Southern – Wide Receivers
2014-15 Georgia Southern – Tight Ends
2016 Georgia Southern – Special Teams Coordinator
2017 Georgia Southern – Interim Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
2018-21 Georgia Southern – Head Coach
2022 Florida Atlantic – Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
2023-24 Florida Atlantic – Associate Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
2024 Florida Atlantic – Interim Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
2025 Auburn – Special Teams Coordinator
