Chip Vaughn enters his first season as the Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach for the Storm football team in 2023 season. Prior to joining Lake Erie, Vaughn was at the University of Illinois as Assistant Director of Player Personnel. Before arriving at Illinois, Vaughn was with the New York Jets, where he spent two seasons as a Defensive Assistant/Assistant Safeties Coach.
Prior to the Jets, Vaughn was part of an Air Force team that finished the 2019 season ranked in the Top 25 with two wins over Power-5 teams, including Washington State in the Cheez-It Bowl. The defense finished 17th in total defense and seventh in rush defense, while the secondary saw three players selected to All-Mountain West Conference teams, one of which earned an undrafted free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
Vaughn was selected to the 2020 American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute. He was also a Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship coach with the New Orleans Saints during training camp in 2018. Vaughn was also selected to participate in the 2018 NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy. The NFL and NCAA host the Coaches Academy for former NFL players who are current coaches. The highly competitive and intensive program trains selected participants in a variety of areas that encourage effective coaching and improve student-athlete well-being at both the intercollegiate and professional levels. Vaughn was 1 of 15 coaches nationally to participate in the training.
A former fourth-round selection by New Orleans in 2009, Vaughn was a part of the Saints’ Super Bowl run, despite suffering an injury suffered in training camp. He appeared in three games the following season with Indianapolis before going on injured reserve and retiring the following year due to injuries while with Carolina.
Vaughn is a native of Fairfax, VA, where he starred at Robinson Secondary School, before playing collegiately at Wake Forest. Vaughn had a stellar career as a Demon Deacon where he finished with 258 tackles (174 solo), three interceptions, 22 pass breakups, four fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one fumble returned for a touchdown. In 2007, Vaughn led the team in tackles and was named All-ACC honorable mention. He topped off his senior season in 2008 with a First Team All-ACC selection, where he played in 13 games with 12 starts, registering 87 tackles, two interceptions, six passes defended, two fumble recoveries, and finished 2nd in tackles. Vaughn helped Wake Forest rank 12th in the nation in pass defense, allowing 172.5 yards per game. Vaughn was a Jim Thorpe Award candidate and was also selected to the Senior Bowl.
A native of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Vaughn double majored in sociology and religion at Wake Forest and is in the process of earning his MBA from Fayetteville State University. He and his wife, Erin, have a 2 year old daughter, Luna Isabella.
