Football
R.J. Chidester
- Title:
- Tight Ends Coach
- Email:
- rjc320@lehigh.edu
- Phone:
- 610-758-4510
Recruiting Areas: Illinois (Chicagoland), Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio (all but northeast), Kentucky (northern), Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri
R.J. Chidester begins his second season on the Lehigh coaching staff, where he will coach the tight ends.
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In his first season on staff, Chidester coached Alex Snyder, who earned second team All-Patriot League honors with six receptions for 58 yards in three games.
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Chidester comes to Lehigh with a familiarity working with head coach 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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R.J. Chidester begins his second season on the Lehigh coaching staff, where he will coach the tight ends.
Â
In his first season on staff, Chidester coached Alex Snyder, who earned second team All-Patriot League honors with six receptions for 58 yards in three games.
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Chidester comes to Lehigh with a familiarity working with head coach 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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