Gilmore adds three to Lehigh football coaching staff
3/9/2020 4:03:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With the start of spring practice less than two weeks away, Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore has announced three additions to the Mountain Hawks' coaching staff. Alex Stadler has joined the staff to coach the offensive line, R.J. Chidester has been hired as tight ends coach, and Mark Fetterman returns to Lehigh to coach the Mountain Hawks' linebackers.
Stadler spent the 2019 season as an offensive analyst at Wake Forest, where he reunited with head coach Dave Clawson. Former Lehigh head coach Kevin Higgins is also on the Demon Deacons' staff, while Gilmore coached at Wake Forest in 2018 prior to his return to Lehigh.
Stadler coached on Clawson's staff at Bowling Green in 2013. He moved on to Sul Ross State in Alpine, Texas the following year and then went to Virginia State, where he spent four seasons coaching the offensive line. Stadler's Virginia State teams experienced unprecedented success, highlighted by a CIAA championship and NCAA playoff appearance in 2017. Throughout his career, Stadler has mentored 16 players to all-conference honors and coached four All-Americans.
A native of Bealton, Va., Stadler began his college football career at Alabama before transferring to Liberty, where he was a three-year starter and three-year all-conference honoree on the offensive line. He was a team captain as a senior, while earning his bachelor's degree in communications. Stadler added a master's in sports administration from Liberty in 2013. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Liberty in 2011 and spent the 2012 season at Richmond.
Alex and his wife Heather will relocate to the Lehigh Valley.
Chidester comes to Lehigh with a familiarity working with Gilmore. He served as tight ends coach on Gilmore's staff at Holy Cross in 2017. Chidester spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., where he served as quarterbacks coach and added the title of offensive coordinator for the 2019 season. As offensive coordinator, Chidester coached a pair of all-conference selections.
Prior to his stint at Holy Cross, Chidester spent five seasons on the staff at Alma College. His first two seasons were spent as passing game coordinator, working with quarterbacks and wide receivers. He was then promoted to offensive coordinator, where he spent two more seasons. Chidester spent the 2016 season moving to the defensive side of the ball. He served as co-defensive coordinator and worked with the front seven.
Chidester's coaching career began at his alma mater, Defiance College, where he spent four seasons beginning as a graduate assistant working with the tight ends before moving his way up to offensive coordinator in 2011.
A four-year letterwinner in football and baseball at Defiance, Chidester earned his bachelor's degree in 2008 and added a master's in education in 2011.
Fetterman returns to Lehigh for his second stint on the Mountain Hawks' coaching staff. A Lehigh Valley native, and graduate of nearby Saucon Valley High School, Fetterman coached at Lehigh from 2000-04 during one of the most successful periods in program history. Serving defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coach, Fetterman coached two All-Americans and 11 All-Patriot League selections. Fetterman's first four years at Lehigh coincided with Gilmore's four-year stint as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. In Lehigh's 2001 Patriot League Championship and Lambert Cup season, the Mountain Hawks allowed just 98.1 rushing yards per game, while defensive linemen accounted for 18 of Lehigh's 25 sacks. The rush defense improved to 86.6 yards per game in 2002.
Lehigh posted a 49-11 record in Fetterman's five seasons on staff and won three Patriot League championships.
Fetterman spent the last six seasons as the defensive coordinator at Franklin & Marshall College. The 2017 season saw the Diplomats boast one of the top defenses in the Centennial Conference with eight defensive players earning all-conference recognition, including Player of the Year Joe Granahan.
Prior to his arrival at Franklin & Marshall, Fetterman spent five seasons as defensive coordinator at Widener University, where he coached seven all-conference performers and a pair of All-Americans. He helped guide Widener to the 2012 MAC championship and a NCAA playoff berth.
Fetterman's first stint at Lehigh was preceded by three seasons as defensive coordinator at Jacksonville University, where he worked with both the linebackers and defensive line. He also spent three seasons at Ursinus (1995-97) coaching the running backs and serving as strength and conditioning coach. Fetterman's 30-plus year coaching career also includes stops at Downingtown East High School, Coatesville High School and Glen Mills School.
Fetterman is the son of the late Barry Fetterman, who coached at Lehigh from 1968-76, 1977-87 and 1994-97. Barry served as offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach in his many years on staff. The Barry Fetterman Award is presented annually at the year-end football banquet to the player who exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football.
Mark Fetterman is a 1988 graduate of West Chester University with a degree in sports administration. He and his wife Kim are parents of Jessica and Jordan.
Lehigh will open its spring practice segment on Thursday, March 19.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Stadler spent the 2019 season as an offensive analyst at Wake Forest, where he reunited with head coach Dave Clawson. Former Lehigh head coach Kevin Higgins is also on the Demon Deacons' staff, while Gilmore coached at Wake Forest in 2018 prior to his return to Lehigh.
Stadler coached on Clawson's staff at Bowling Green in 2013. He moved on to Sul Ross State in Alpine, Texas the following year and then went to Virginia State, where he spent four seasons coaching the offensive line. Stadler's Virginia State teams experienced unprecedented success, highlighted by a CIAA championship and NCAA playoff appearance in 2017. Throughout his career, Stadler has mentored 16 players to all-conference honors and coached four All-Americans.
A native of Bealton, Va., Stadler began his college football career at Alabama before transferring to Liberty, where he was a three-year starter and three-year all-conference honoree on the offensive line. He was a team captain as a senior, while earning his bachelor's degree in communications. Stadler added a master's in sports administration from Liberty in 2013. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Liberty in 2011 and spent the 2012 season at Richmond.
Alex and his wife Heather will relocate to the Lehigh Valley.
Chidester comes to Lehigh with a familiarity working with Gilmore. He served as tight ends coach on Gilmore's staff at Holy Cross in 2017. Chidester spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., where he served as quarterbacks coach and added the title of offensive coordinator for the 2019 season. As offensive coordinator, Chidester coached a pair of all-conference selections.
Prior to his stint at Holy Cross, Chidester spent five seasons on the staff at Alma College. His first two seasons were spent as passing game coordinator, working with quarterbacks and wide receivers. He was then promoted to offensive coordinator, where he spent two more seasons. Chidester spent the 2016 season moving to the defensive side of the ball. He served as co-defensive coordinator and worked with the front seven.
Chidester's coaching career began at his alma mater, Defiance College, where he spent four seasons beginning as a graduate assistant working with the tight ends before moving his way up to offensive coordinator in 2011.
A four-year letterwinner in football and baseball at Defiance, Chidester earned his bachelor's degree in 2008 and added a master's in education in 2011.
Fetterman returns to Lehigh for his second stint on the Mountain Hawks' coaching staff. A Lehigh Valley native, and graduate of nearby Saucon Valley High School, Fetterman coached at Lehigh from 2000-04 during one of the most successful periods in program history. Serving defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coach, Fetterman coached two All-Americans and 11 All-Patriot League selections. Fetterman's first four years at Lehigh coincided with Gilmore's four-year stint as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. In Lehigh's 2001 Patriot League Championship and Lambert Cup season, the Mountain Hawks allowed just 98.1 rushing yards per game, while defensive linemen accounted for 18 of Lehigh's 25 sacks. The rush defense improved to 86.6 yards per game in 2002.
Lehigh posted a 49-11 record in Fetterman's five seasons on staff and won three Patriot League championships.
Fetterman spent the last six seasons as the defensive coordinator at Franklin & Marshall College. The 2017 season saw the Diplomats boast one of the top defenses in the Centennial Conference with eight defensive players earning all-conference recognition, including Player of the Year Joe Granahan.
Prior to his arrival at Franklin & Marshall, Fetterman spent five seasons as defensive coordinator at Widener University, where he coached seven all-conference performers and a pair of All-Americans. He helped guide Widener to the 2012 MAC championship and a NCAA playoff berth.
Fetterman's first stint at Lehigh was preceded by three seasons as defensive coordinator at Jacksonville University, where he worked with both the linebackers and defensive line. He also spent three seasons at Ursinus (1995-97) coaching the running backs and serving as strength and conditioning coach. Fetterman's 30-plus year coaching career also includes stops at Downingtown East High School, Coatesville High School and Glen Mills School.
Fetterman is the son of the late Barry Fetterman, who coached at Lehigh from 1968-76, 1977-87 and 1994-97. Barry served as offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach in his many years on staff. The Barry Fetterman Award is presented annually at the year-end football banquet to the player who exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football.
Mark Fetterman is a 1988 graduate of West Chester University with a degree in sports administration. He and his wife Kim are parents of Jessica and Jordan.
Lehigh will open its spring practice segment on Thursday, March 19.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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