Football
Petrilli, Chris
Chris Petrilli
- Title:
- Assistant Coach, Outside Linebackers, Special Teams
- Email:
- UNTFootball@unt.edu
- Alma Mater:
- Boise State, 2012
Chris Petrilli was promoted to outside linebackers coach and special teams coach in April 2021.
In his first season with an on-field role at UNT, Petrilli helped kicker Ethan Mooney and long snapper Nate Durham both earn Honorable Mention All-CUSA recognition.
Petrilli also led the outside linebacker group that was part of a defense that finished second in Conference USA with 38 sacks and posted the biggest improvement of any FBS program cutting its total yards allowed by 144.3 ypg.
Petrilli arrived at North Texas in 2017, where he started as a special teams volunteer before becoming the Mean Green's defensive quality control coach prior to the 2019 season.
As a part of the defensive staff in 2020, Petrilli helped defensive tackle Dion Novil become one of the most disruptive defenders in Conference USA. Novil finished the 2020 season with 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and a team-high 8.0 tackles for loss while earning First-Team All-Conference USA honors. Petrilli also assisted former Mean Green defensive end -- and current Dallas Cowboy -- Ladarius Hamilton to a stellar 2019 campaign that saw Hamilton finish with a team-high 8.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.
Petrilli previously served as the defensive backs and returners coach for Drake University (FCS) in 2016 where he helped guide return specialist Terry Wallen and defensive back Caz Zyks to All-PFL honors. Wallen finished 2nd in the nation (FCS) in punt returns with an average of 14.8 and 1 TD. The secondary collected nine interceptions in 2016.
Prior to his time at Drake, Petrilli spent the 2015 season at Boise State serving as the Broncos' special teams and defensive quality control coach, primarily working with the secondary. BSU finished 9-4 including a Poinsettia Bowl victory, 55-7 over Northern Illinois. Three defensive backs on that team went on to play in the NFL, second team All-Mountain West corner Donte Deayon, corner Jonathan Moxey and first team All-Mountain West safety Darian Thompson. Tyler Rausa was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and first team All-Mountain West kicker.
Before joining the Broncos, Petrilli was the special teams, defensive backs and conditioning coach at the College of Idaho from 2013 to 2014. In the Yotes’ debut game after a 37 year hiatus, Petrilli’s special teams ran a kickoff return back for a TD, blocked a FG and blocked an extra point to give C of I the 35-34 victory over Pacific University. Kicker Luke Taylor set a school record for most successful extra points (34) while DB Cory Brady led the league in interceptions with 6 and CB Nate Moore ranked second in passes break ups with 11.
Petrilli coached at Charleston Southern University in 2012. While at CSU, he coached the wide receivers and assisted in all aspects of special teams. Freshman WR Larry Jones III earned second team All-Big South honors.
Petrilli spent four years at Eagle High School in Idaho, serving as the running backs and returners coach. During his time at EHS, the Mustangs achieved back-to-back Idaho championship appearances, winning the state title in 2009. Petrilli also coached four running backs that went on to play at the collegiate level.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Petrilli served in the U.S. Military as a member of the elite military forces, serving as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., before receiving an honorable discharge.
Petrilli played football at Carroll College in Helena, Mont. During his time with the Fighting Saints, he contributed in all three phases of the game, spending time at free safety and wide receiver, as well as special teams.
Petrilli graduated from Boise State in 2012, earning his degree in economics. He and his wife Christal have four children: Addisan, Andrew, Audrey and Asher.
Coaching History
2008-11: Eagle (Idaho) HS, running backs
2012: Charleston Southern, assistant secondary
2013-14: College of Idaho, special teams/defensive backs
2015: Boise State, quality control
2016: Drake, defensive backs
2017-18: UNT, volunteer coach
2019-20: UNT, quality control
2021-present: UNT, special teams coordinator/outside linebackers
In his first season with an on-field role at UNT, Petrilli helped kicker Ethan Mooney and long snapper Nate Durham both earn Honorable Mention All-CUSA recognition.
Petrilli also led the outside linebacker group that was part of a defense that finished second in Conference USA with 38 sacks and posted the biggest improvement of any FBS program cutting its total yards allowed by 144.3 ypg.
Petrilli arrived at North Texas in 2017, where he started as a special teams volunteer before becoming the Mean Green's defensive quality control coach prior to the 2019 season.
As a part of the defensive staff in 2020, Petrilli helped defensive tackle Dion Novil become one of the most disruptive defenders in Conference USA. Novil finished the 2020 season with 37 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and a team-high 8.0 tackles for loss while earning First-Team All-Conference USA honors. Petrilli also assisted former Mean Green defensive end -- and current Dallas Cowboy -- Ladarius Hamilton to a stellar 2019 campaign that saw Hamilton finish with a team-high 8.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss.
Petrilli previously served as the defensive backs and returners coach for Drake University (FCS) in 2016 where he helped guide return specialist Terry Wallen and defensive back Caz Zyks to All-PFL honors. Wallen finished 2nd in the nation (FCS) in punt returns with an average of 14.8 and 1 TD. The secondary collected nine interceptions in 2016.
Prior to his time at Drake, Petrilli spent the 2015 season at Boise State serving as the Broncos' special teams and defensive quality control coach, primarily working with the secondary. BSU finished 9-4 including a Poinsettia Bowl victory, 55-7 over Northern Illinois. Three defensive backs on that team went on to play in the NFL, second team All-Mountain West corner Donte Deayon, corner Jonathan Moxey and first team All-Mountain West safety Darian Thompson. Tyler Rausa was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and first team All-Mountain West kicker.
Before joining the Broncos, Petrilli was the special teams, defensive backs and conditioning coach at the College of Idaho from 2013 to 2014. In the Yotes’ debut game after a 37 year hiatus, Petrilli’s special teams ran a kickoff return back for a TD, blocked a FG and blocked an extra point to give C of I the 35-34 victory over Pacific University. Kicker Luke Taylor set a school record for most successful extra points (34) while DB Cory Brady led the league in interceptions with 6 and CB Nate Moore ranked second in passes break ups with 11.
Petrilli coached at Charleston Southern University in 2012. While at CSU, he coached the wide receivers and assisted in all aspects of special teams. Freshman WR Larry Jones III earned second team All-Big South honors.
Petrilli spent four years at Eagle High School in Idaho, serving as the running backs and returners coach. During his time at EHS, the Mustangs achieved back-to-back Idaho championship appearances, winning the state title in 2009. Petrilli also coached four running backs that went on to play at the collegiate level.
Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Petrilli served in the U.S. Military as a member of the elite military forces, serving as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., before receiving an honorable discharge.
Petrilli played football at Carroll College in Helena, Mont. During his time with the Fighting Saints, he contributed in all three phases of the game, spending time at free safety and wide receiver, as well as special teams.
Petrilli graduated from Boise State in 2012, earning his degree in economics. He and his wife Christal have four children: Addisan, Andrew, Audrey and Asher.
Coaching History
2008-11: Eagle (Idaho) HS, running backs
2012: Charleston Southern, assistant secondary
2013-14: College of Idaho, special teams/defensive backs
2015: Boise State, quality control
2016: Drake, defensive backs
2017-18: UNT, volunteer coach
2019-20: UNT, quality control
2021-present: UNT, special teams coordinator/outside linebackers
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