Coach

By committee, the Chargers rushed for more than 1,800 yards and scored 18 rushing touchdowns in 2010, due in large part to the play of the offensive line. Center Nick Hardwick and tackle Jeromey Clary both returned from injury to start all 16 games, while guard Kris Dielman earned his fourth-consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl. The unit should continue to rank among the league’s best well into the future with cornerstone left tackle Marcus McNeill, a two-time Pro Bowler, now under contract through 2015.

A long-time college assistant before making the jump to the NFL, Hunter has seen the Chargers average 1,915 rushing yards per year and score 99 touchdowns on the ground during his first five seasons in San Diego.

On the collegiate level, Hunter was the offensive coordinator at Indiana University where his star player was quarterback and Big Ten Player of the Year, Antwaan Randle El, a second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002. Hunter also coached at LSU where he served as assistant head coach in 1999. At the end of that ’99 season, he was named interim head coach for one game after Gerry DiNardo was fired by the school and led the Tigers to a 35-10 win over rival Arkansas. Hunter’s star pupil at LSU was offensive lineman Alan Faneca, who also was drafted by the Steelers with their first-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft.

Hunter was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. He was a standout football player and wrestler at Belle Vernon (Pa.) High School. He became a Dean’s List student at Northwestern and graduated with a 3.6 GPA and a degree in communications. Hunter played linebacker for the Wildcats, but a neck injury in 1978 ended his career prematurely. Following the injury, he remained with the team, working with the defensive line and serving as a strength coach.

Hunter and his wife, Tracy, have two sons: Hal IV and Andrew. Hal plays football for the U.S. Naval Academy, and Andrew will be attending Indiana University.