Bob Chesney
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1977)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Bob Chesney
| image = Holy Cross head football coach Bob Chesney closeup.jpg
| alt = Robert Chesney head shot
| caption = Chesney at Holy Cross in 2023
| current_title = Head coach
| current_team = James Madison
| current_conference = Sun Belt
| current_record = 9–4
| contract =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|8|10}}
| birth_place = Kulpmont, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1996–1999
| player_team1 = Dickinson
| player_positions = Defensive back
| coach_years1 = 2000–2001
| coach_years2 = 2002
| coach_team2 = Delaware Valley (DC)
| coach_years3 = 2003–2004
| coach_team3 = King's (PA) (ST)
| coach_years4 = 2005–2006
| coach_team4 = Johns Hopkins (ST/DB)
| coach_years5 = 2007–2008
| coach_team5 = Johns Hopkins (DC/ST/DB)
| coach_years6 = 2009
| coach_team6 = Johns Hopkins (AHC/DC/DB)
| coach_years7 = 2010–2012
| coach_team7 = Salve Regina
| coach_years8 = 2013–2017
| coach_team8 = Assumption
| coach_years9 = 2018–2023
| coach_team9 = Holy Cross
| coach_years10 = 2024–present
| coach_team10 = James Madison
| overall_record = 120–50
| bowl_record = 2–0
| tournament_record = 3–3 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
2–3 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
| 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)
Bear Bryant Fan Favorite Coach Award (2024)
VaSID Coach of the Year (2024)
| coaching_records =
}}
Robert Edward Chesney (born August 10, 1977) is an American college football coach. He is the head football coach for James Madison University, a position he has held since 2024. 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.salveathletics.com/sports/fball/2009-10/releases/20110413lace2v|title=Salve Regina Names Bob Chesney Head Football Coach|work=salveathletics.com|date=April 30, 2010|access-date=January 25, 2018}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.salveathletics.com/sports/fball/records/season-individual|title=Salve Regina Football Individual Season Records|work=salveathletics.com|access-date=January 25, 2018}} Following his success with that program, Chesney was hired as the tenth head coach in Assumption College football program history.{{cite news|url=https://www.northeast10.org/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/02.05.13_Chesney_hiring|title=Assumption Names Bob Chesney Head Football Coach|work= northeast10.org |date= February 5, 2013|access-date=January 25, 2018}} Prior to his arrival the Assumption program had posted two winning seasons in the 17 previous years. {{cite news|url=http://www.assumptiongreyhounds.com/sports/fball/year-by-year/footballyearly.HTML|title=Assumption College Football History|work= assumptiongreyhounds.com|date=2010|access-date=January 25, 2018}} Chesney led the Greyhounds to five-straight winning records and NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his last three years. {{cite news|url= https://goholycross.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=33100&ATCLID=211689686|title=Bob Chesney Head Coach|work= goholycross.com|date=2010|access-date=January 25, 2018}} 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.{{cite news |last=Pearson |first=Keith |date=December 20, 2017 |title=Bob Chesney takes reins as Holy Cross football coach |work=Boston Herald |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/college/college_football/2017/12/bob_chesney_takes_reins_as_holy_cross_football_coach |access-date=January 25, 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://patriotleague.org/news/2017/12/14/holy-cross-names-bob-chesney-head-football-coach.aspx|title=Holy Cross Names Bob Chesney Head Football Coach|work=patriotleague.org|date=December 14, 2017|access-date=January 25, 2018}}
On December 7, 2023, Chesney was named the head football coach at James Madison University.{{Cite web |last=Thamel |first=Pete |date=December 7, 2023 |title=JMU hires Holy Cross' Chesney as head coach |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39063690/sources-james-madison-expected-holy-cross-bob-chesney |access-date=December 7, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}
Head coaching record
File:Holy Cross head football coach Bob Chesney speaks with player.jpg]]
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = AFCA }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Salve Regina Seahawks
| conf = New England Football Conference
| startyear = 2010
| endyear = 2012
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2010
| name = Salve Regina
| overall = 6–4
| conference = 5–3
| confstanding = 3rd (Boyd)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2011
| name = Salve Regina
| overall = 8–3
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = 3rd (Boyd)
| bowlname = ECAC Northwest
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 2012
| name = Salve Regina
| overall = 9–2
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = 1st (Boyd)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 24
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Salve Regina
| overall = 23–9
| confrecord = 18–6
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Assumption Greyhounds
| conf = Northeast-10 Conference
| startyear = 2013
| endyear = 2017
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2013
| name = Assumption
| overall = 6–5
| conference = 6–3
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2014
| name = Assumption
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 6–3
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2015
| name = Assumption
| overall = 11–2
| conference = 8–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division II Second Round
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 17
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2016
| name = Assumption
| overall = 9–3
| conference = 8–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname = NCAA Division II First Round
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 25
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2017
| name = Assumption
| overall = 11–2
| conference = 8–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division II Quarterfinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 9
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Assumption
| overall = 44–16
| confrecord = 36–9
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Holy Cross Crusaders
| conf = Patriot League
| startyear = 2018
| endyear = 2023
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2018
| name = Holy Cross
| overall = 5–6
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding = T–2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2019
| name = Holy Cross
| overall = 7–6
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division I First Round
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2020–21
| name = Holy Cross
| overall = 3–1
| conference = 2–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division I First Round
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 25
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2021
| name = Holy Cross
| overall = 10–3
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division I Second Round
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 24
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2022
| name = Holy Cross
| overall = 12–1
| conference = 6–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division I Quarterfinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 6
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2023
| name = Holy Cross
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 25
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Holy Cross
| overall = 44–21
| confrecord = 28–4
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = James Madison Dukes
| conf = Sun Belt Conference
| startyear = 2024
| endyear =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2024
| name = James Madison
| overall = 9–4
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = T–3rd (East)
| bowlname = Boca Raton
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = James Madison
| overall = 9–4
| confrecord = 4–4
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 120–50
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{ccat}}
- [https://jmusports.com/staff-directory/bob-chesney/5990 James Madison profile]
- [https://goholycross.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/bob-chesney/765 Holy Cross profile]
- [https://www.salveathletics.com/sports/fball/coaches/zz-chesney Salve Regina profile]
{{Sun Belt Conference football coach navbox}}
{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Salve Regina Seahawks football coach navbox}}
{{Assumption Greyhounds football coach navbox}}
{{Holy Cross Crusaders football coach navbox}}
{{James Madison Dukes football coach navbox}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chesney, Bob}}
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Assumption Greyhounds football coaches
Category:Delaware Valley Aggies football coaches
Category:Dickinson Red Devils football players
Category:Holy Cross Crusaders football coaches
Category:James Madison Dukes football coaches
Category:King's College Monarchs football coaches
Category:Johns Hopkins Blue Jays football coaches
Category:Norwich Cadets football coaches
Category:Salve Regina Seahawks football coaches
Category:Sportspeople from Northumberland County, Pennsylvania