New Hoosiers DC Charlton Warren talks decision to take job at Indiana

For the second time in as many years, Tom Allen was looking to replace one of his coordinators. Following the 2019 season, Indiana watched offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer take a head coaching job at Fresno State. At the end of the 2020 campaign, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack accepted the job to be the head coach at South Alabama.

Allen worked efficiently in finding a replacement for Wommack, naming former Georgia defensive backs coach Charlton Warren the next defensive coordinator. It was a big-time hire for the Hoosiers, with Warren bringing a ton of experience and an excellent recruiting background to Bloomington.

Wednesday, Warren spoke with the media for the first time since taking the job at IU. He talked about what drew him to Indiana, his competitive nature, his plans for recruiting and how he plans to work with the Indiana defense.

Here’s what Warren had to say on Wednesday:

Getting to hear from Charlton Warren, IU's new DC, for the first time today:

"Really was drawn to Indiana, like everyone else in the country, the great spirit, the culture they play with … the things they were able to do is amazing." #iufb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) January 27, 2021

Warren on what drew him to IU:

"Being tough, having to tackle, relentless with effort, those are the things you preach as a coach and that's what they preach as a program here." #iufb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) January 27, 2021

Charlton Warren says he always wanted to get back to being a defensive coordinator but didn't want to "take a job to take a job."

As far as the 4-2-5, he says most of the defenses he has coached in have based out of five DBs, it's just a "tweak here, a technique here." #iufb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) January 27, 2021

Charlton Warren, asked by @KevinBrockwayG1 about once being referred to as "Mr. Intensity," says he is definitely someone you are going to hear on the practice field. Also:

"Don't play me in checkers. I want to win." #iufb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) January 27, 2021

Warren talks about his recruiting connections, which he obviously has a lot of connections in the South, being from Georgia and recruiting in the SEC.

But he says, "I can recruit in Alaska if you need me there." #iufb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) January 27, 2021

Warren says he was showing players at Georgia videos about "LEO" from IU as motivators.

"It gets contagious, right? You see a group of guys working their tails off for a common goal." #iufb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) January 27, 2021