Chris Marve, a former two-time Commodore defensive captain who ranks among the program’s all-time leading tacklers, enters his third year as the team’s inside linebackers coach.
In 2017, Marve’s top pupil Oren Burks ranked second on the team with 45 solo tackles and 82 total tackles. After the season, Burks was selected by Green Bay in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Zach Cunningham, Marve’s top understudy in 2016, enjoyed one of the greatest seasons and careers ever by a Commodore. He earned consensus first team All-America recognition en route to arguably becoming the most decorated defender in program history.
Cunningham, who topped the SEC with 125 total tackles as a senior, is now starting in the Houston Texans’ linebacker corps after being taken No. 57 overall by Houston in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Marve was named to 247Sports’ 30 Under 30 Coaches list in 2017.
Marve joined the Commodore defensive staff in 2014, working as a quality control assistant. After focusing on linebackers as a graduate assistant in 2015, Marve was promoted to the inside linebacker position prior to the 2016 campaign.
Mason has described Marve, a former four-year Vanderbilt starting linebacker, as “one of the top young defensive minds” in college football.
Marve’s value has been evident since joining the Vanderbilt staff. In the last two years, the unit has enjoyed vast improvement in several key statistical categories, including scoring defense, total defense, first downs allowed, third-down efficency and red-zone defense.
Marve also helped Cunningham and fellow linebacker Nigel Bowden to banner campaigns in 2014-15. Cunningham earned first team All-SEC by posting 16.5 tackles for loss among 103 total stops. Bowden was a Freshman All-SEC selection in 2014 after registering 78 tackles.
Marve became one of the most decorated players in Vanderbilt history by garnering All-Southeastern Conference accolades in each of his four years. His performance on the field also helped the Commodores to postseason appearances in the 2008 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl and the 2011 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Marve quickly established himself as a Vanderbilt student-athlete, earning Freshman All-America and All-SEC honors in 2008 after registering 105 tackles and four forced fumbles. He capped the season with a 10-tackle performance in the Commodores’ Music City Bowl victory over Boston College.
As a sophomore, Marve earned second team All-SEC recognition from league coaches after posting career highs with 121 total tackles and 57 solo stops. He also averaged 10.1 tackles in conference play.
In 2010, Marve again earned coaches’ All-SEC honors as a junior defensive co-captain. That year, he finished with 80 tackles and eight tackles for loss.
As a senior captain, Marve contributed 91 tackles, earned All-SEC recognition from coaches and the Associated Press, and was instrumental in leading the Commodores back to postseason play. Marve’s final appearance came in his hometown at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Marve ranks eighth on the team’s career defensive charts with 397 total tackles. His career total of 28 tackles for loss ranks ninth all-time among Commodores.
Marve completed undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Human & Organizational Development in December 2011. He recently earned a Master’s of Education in Higher Education Administration from Vanderbilt’s Peabody School.
Marve is married to the former Lauren Dillard, a fellow Vanderbilt graduate.
Marve’s Coaching Career
2016-18 – Vanderbilt – Inside Linebackers Coach
2015 – Vanderbilt – Defensive Graduate Assistant
2014 – Vanderbilt – Defensive Quality Control