At least some of the speculation surrounding LSU’s coaching changes was put to rest when LSU coach Les Miles named John Chavis as the Tigers’ new defensive coordinator Monday afternoon.Chavis spent 14 years as defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers, but he was not retained following the Volunteers’ hiring of head coach Lane Kiffin in December.”John Chavis has pursued excellence his entire career. The people that have been coached by him and the defenses that he’s run speak to him knowing exactly what he’s doing,” Miles said. “We fully appreciate the idea that he’ll come in with great experience in this conference.”Chavis also spent six seasons as an assistant with Tennessee before taking the coordinator position. His defense was one of the lone bright spots of the Volunteers’ 2008 season, as the unit finished the season ranked No. 3 in total defense despite a 5-7 record.The announcement puts an end to more than a month of speculation following the Tigers’ 31-30 loss to Arkansas on Nov. 28. With a defense that dropped from No. 3 in 2007 to No. 32 in 2008, LSU co-defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto has already accepted Northwestern State’s head coaching position, and fellow co-defensive coordinator Doug Mallory has reportedly been offered a job as New Mexico’s defensive coordinator.”When [Peveto] gets the head coaching job obviously there’s going to be an opening,” Miles said. “We reviewed some candidates that might be out there. We visited by phone several times and one time face to face.”Although he would not clarify any other potential job vacancies, Miles said Chavis had been involved in decisions regarding the Tigers’ staff.”It would be inappropriate for me to fill the room with suggestions,” he said. “You don’t want to bring a guy in and find out that he’s not comfortable with any of the guys that he’s working with.”Chavis’ hiring has been in place for several days, as many LSU fans are no doubt aware. Miles said the decision was “made official around here” on Friday, and Chavis has been on the recruiting trail for the Tigers since then.The departure of Peveto also leaves the Tigers without a linebackers coach. Miles said it is likely Chavis will work in this capacity when he arrives in Baton Rouge. Chavis was Tennessee’s linebackers coach from 1989-1994, and continued to work as linebackers coach when he became the Volunteers’ defensive coordinator in 1995.”John has always been a position guy, so there’s an opportunity for him to continue there,” Miles said. “I think he’s always enjoyed coaching the linebackers. I hate to speak for him, but I think that’s what he is going to do.”Miles said the best indicator of Chavis’ ability may well be LSU’s three games against his defenses since 2005. The Volunteers defeated LSU in overtime in Tiger Stadium in Miles’ first home game. LSU returned the favor in 2006 with a 28-24 win in Knoxville. Most notably, LSU defeated Tennessee, 21-14, in 2007’s Southeastern Conference championship game.”The resume is obvious, but then you play them,” Miles said. “I remember in 2005 we played them here. We hit a flea flicker for a big play, Joseph Addai broke a run to the left and we hit them with a few trap draws, and that was it – and it was frustrating. I remember the championship game where we scored 21 with seven that we took from them. And we fought like hell to get the 14 that we got … that’s some obvious auditioning.”Miles has not had a chance to address the team due to the remaining week of vacation, but he expects a seamless transition.”We’re veteran enough that we can transfer knowledge comfortably, and we’re young enough that the first-time learners will get it,” he said. “This is a group of guys that can handle change the best.”