Chris Haering Position: Linebackers

Chris Haering enters his second year as linebackers coach at Pitt. He joined the collegiate ranks after establishing himself as one of the WPIAL's most respected high school football coaches over the past two decades.

Despite facing an array of injuries and inexperience last season, Haering's linebacker unit played at a productive level and helped Pitt rank 17th nationally in total defense, surrendering just 330.54 yards per game. Six players who started games at linebacker last year return, giving the position an optimistic outlook for 2013.

Haering joined the Panthers following an impressive tenure at nearby Mt. Lebanon High School, where he served as head football coach for 17 years. He compiled a 111-71 record from 1995-2011, leading the Blue Devils to 13 WPIAL playoff appearances and sending numerous players on to college football.

In 2000, Mt. Lebanon won the WPIAL Class AAAA championship when it defeated Woodland Hills, 14-13, in the final high school game ever played at Three Rivers Stadium. The game is still considered one of the most thrilling title games in recent WPIAL history.

Prior to Mt. Lebanon, Haering was the head coach at Hampton High in 1994 and led the program to an 8-3 mark and WPIAL playoff berth.

Haering also brings to Pitt an accomplished background as a collegiate player. He was a standout linebacker at West Virginia University from 1986-89, and is considered one of the Mountaineers' finest to ever play the position. Haering earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from WVU in 1989.

It was at West Virginia that Haering first met Paul Chryst, who was a graduate assistant coach under Don Nehlen in 1989 and 1990.

Haering comes from a family of coaches. His father Chuck grew up in Pittsburgh and was a longtime coach on the NCAA Division II level. An uncle, Joe Haering, is a linebackers coach at Southern Methodist University and had prior coaching stints in the National Football League, Canadian Football League and as head coach of the Pittsburgh Gladiators in the Arena Football League. Additionally, Chris' younger brother Mark was a highly successful head coach at Pueblo South High (Colo.).

Haering and his wife Melissa have two children: daughter Madison and son Mark.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Born: June 10, 1967

Hometown: Pueblo, Colo.

Alma Mater: West Virginia, 1989

Family: Haering and his wife Melissa have two children: daughter Madison and son Mark.

COACHING EXPERIENCE

College

West Virginia, 1991, graduate assistant.

Pittsburgh, 2012-present, linebackers.

High School

Hampton (Pa.) High, 1993, assistant coach; 1994, head coach.

Mt. Lebanon (Pa.) High, 1995-2011, head coach.