Bob Chesney

Bob Chesney
	Chesney in 2023
Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	James Madison
Conference	Sun Belt
Record	0–0
Biographical details
Born	August 10, 1977 (age 47); Kulpmont, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1996–1999	Dickinson
Position(s)	Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2000–2001	Norwich (GA)
2002	Delaware Valley (DC)
2003–2004	King's (PA) (ST)
2005–2006	Johns Hopkins (ST/DB)
2007–2008	Johns Hopkins (DC/ST/DB)
2009	Johns Hopkins (AHC/DC/DB)
2010–2012	Salve Regina
2013–2017	Assumption
2018–2023	Holy Cross
2024–present	James Madison
Head coaching record
Overall	111–46
Bowls	1–0
Tournaments	3–3 (NCAA D-II playoffs); 2–3 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
	2 NE-10 (2015, 2017); 5 Patriot League (2019–2023)
Awards
	2× Second Team All-Centennial (1997–1998); 2× NE-10 Coach of the Year (2015, 2017); New England Football Writers (NEFW) D-II/III Coach of the Year (2015); HERO Sports D-II Coach of the Year (2015); 3× Patriot League Coach of the Year (2019, 2021, 2022); 2× NEFW D-I Coach of the Year (2021–2022); 2× Gridiron Club FBS/FCS Coach of the Year (2021–2022); American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Region 1 Coach of the Year (2022)

Robert Edward Chesney (born August 10, 1977) is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, a position he has held since December 2023. A graduate of Dickinson College, Chesney served as the head football coach at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island from 2010 to 2012, Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts from 2013 to 2017, and the College of the Holy Cross from 2018 to 2023. At Assumption, he led the Greyhounds to consecutive NCAA Division II Football Championship playoff appearances in the final three years of his tenure.

Early life and family

Originally from Kulpmont, Pennsylvania, born to Robert Chesney Sr., and Claudia Chesney (née Yonkovig). Has an older brother, Vincent Chesney, and a younger brother, Nicholas Chesney. Married in 2007 to Andrea, he has two daughters and a son. Chesney is a 1996 Graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School and a 2000 graduate of Dickinson College.

Coaching career

Chesney was hired as the fourth head coach in Salve University football program history following his five-year stint as associate head coach at Johns Hopkins University.^[1] Chesney rebuilt a Salve Regina program which had a streak of eight-consecutive losing seasons before his tenure, upon which he posted three winning campaigns in a row.^[2] Following his success with that program, Chesney was hired as the tenth head coach in Assumption College football program history.^[3] Prior to his arrival the Assumption program had posted two winning seasons in the 17 previous years. ^[4] Chesney led the Greyhounds to five-straight winning records and NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his last three years. ^[5] Chesney coached 94 all-conference selections and 12 All-Americans.

On December 14, 2017, Chesney was named the 28th head football coach at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.^[6]^[7]

On December 7, 2023, Chesney was named the head football coach at James Madison University.^[8]

Head coaching record


Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs	AFCA^#
Salve Regina Seahawks (New England Football Conference) (2010–2012)
2010	Salve Regina	6–4	5–3	3rd (Boyd)
2011	Salve Regina	8–3	6–2	3rd (Boyd)	W ECAC Northwest
2012	Salve Regina	9–2	7–1	1st (Boyd)		24
Salve Regina:		23–9	18–6
Assumption Greyhounds (Northeast-10 Conference) (2013–2017)
2013	Assumption	6–5	6–3	4th
2014	Assumption	7–4	6–3	T–3rd
2015	Assumption	11–2	8–1	1st	L NCAA Division II Second Round	17
2016	Assumption	9–3	8–1	2nd	L NCAA Division II First Round	25
2017	Assumption	11–2	8–1	1st	L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal	9
Assumption:		44–16	36–9
Holy Cross Crusaders (Patriot League) (2018–2023)
2018	Holy Cross	5–6	4–2	T–2nd
2019	Holy Cross	7–6	5–1	1st	L NCAA Division I First Round
2020–21	Holy Cross	3–1	2–0	1st	L NCAA Division I First Round	25
2021	Holy Cross	10–3	6–0	1st	L NCAA Division I Second Round	24
2022	Holy Cross	12–1	6–0	1st	L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal	6
2023	Holy Cross	7–4	5–1	T–1st		25
Holy Cross:		44–21	28–4
James Madison Dukes (Sun Belt Conference) (2024–present)
2024	James Madison	0–0	0–0
James Madison:		0–0	0–0
Total:		111–46
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth

References

^ "Salve Regina Names Bob Chesney Head Football Coach". salveathletics.com. April 30, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^ "Salve Regina Football Individual Season Records". salveathletics.com. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^ "Assumption Names Bob Chesney Head Football Coach". northeast10.org. February 5, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^ "Assumption College Football History". assumptiongreyhounds.com. 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^ "Bob Chesney Head Coach". goholycross.com. 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^ Pearson, Keith (December 20, 2017). "Bob Chesney takes reins as Holy Cross football coach". Boston Herald. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^ "Holy Cross Names Bob Chesney Head Football Coach". patriotleague.org. December 14, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
^ Thamel, Pete (December 7, 2023). "JMU hires Holy Cross' Chesney as head coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.

External links

[1] "Salve Regina Names Bob Chesney Head Football Coach". salveathletics.com. April 30, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2018.

[2] "Salve Regina Football Individual Season Records". salveathletics.com. Retrieved January 25, 2018.

[3] "Assumption Names Bob Chesney Head Football Coach". northeast10.org. February 5, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2018.

[4] "Assumption College Football History". assumptiongreyhounds.com. 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2018.

[5] "Bob Chesney Head Coach". goholycross.com. 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2018.

[6] Pearson, Keith (December 20, 2017). "Bob Chesney takes reins as Holy Cross football coach". Boston Herald. Retrieved January 25, 2018.

[7] "Holy Cross Names Bob Chesney Head Football Coach". patriotleague.org. December 14, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2018.

[8] Thamel, Pete (December 7, 2023). "JMU hires Holy Cross' Chesney as head coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

v t e Head football coaches of the Sun Belt Conference
Eastern Division	Shawn Clark (Appalachian State) Tim Beck (Coastal Carolina) Clay Helton (Georgia Southern) Dell McGee (Georgia State) Bob Chesney (James Madison) Charles Huff (Marshall) Ricky Rahne (Old Dominion)
Western Division	Butch Jones (Arkansas State) Michael Desormeaux (Louisiana) Bryant Vincent (Louisiana–Monroe) Major Applewhite (South Alabama) Will Hall (Southern Miss) G. J. Kinne (Texas State) Gerad Parker (Troy)