With the start of fall football camp right around the corner, new Charles Henderson Defensive Coordinator Chuck Dunn is geared up and ready to mold his new defense into a force for the 2015 season.

Before spending the last two years at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Dunn made stops in both Oxford and Prattville. Now he returns after 14 years to a place he called home and will look to build upon a already strong relationship with Troy.

“I wanted to bring my family back and raise my kids here,” Dunn said. “(CHHS head coach Brad) McCoy and I are best friends, we go way back. I hate to say it, but being the older guy on the staff and having experience at both the college and high school level, I hope to bring some of that experience with me. I can’t be more excited to be back and be a part of this community as well as being active in the community.”

Dunn leads a defense that was part of a team that finished the 2014 season with a 8-4 record and a trip to the post season.

“For me it all starts with defense. Offense is great, but on defense we have to be sound,” Dunn said. “We have to tackle great, chase the ball, and create turnovers.”

Dunn brings a defensive philosophy that puts an emphasis on tackling above all else.

“Games are lost when you miss tackles,” Dunn said. “Every day we are going to practice tackling and chasing the ball. We are going to be great at chasing the ball and we will be great at creating turnovers. I don’t believe in the offense giving things to us, we go out and take it.

Dunn has been working with the players in the weight room this summer to build strength and agility, something that he has also done in his stops at Prattville, Jacksonville State and South Alabama.

Players and coaches hit the weight room four days a week for about two-and-a-half hours. With a young team Dunn uses the weight room to let players grow up both physically and mentally.

Dunn hopes up to ramp up the competition level between the players, in the weight room and on the practice field. He wants his team’s competiveness to start from within.

“We do it everyday in the weight room and everyday on the field,” Dunn said. “I hope to create more competiveness for the players, position by position and class by class. The special thing about high school and college football is the bond amongst players and coaches. I think this group has that potential.”

Dunn has high expectations from his players heading into the fall camp.

“I want us to come together as a team, I think that is what fall camp is all about,” Dunn said. “If we can grow up and mature, we will be a very good football team.