Eastern Michigan Athletics
Chris Chestnut Named EMU Football Assistant Coach
4/11/2023 3:08:00 PM | Football
Chestnut will serve as Eastern’s wide receivers coach
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Chris Chestnut, an assistant coach at Western Michigan University for the past two seasons, has been named an assistant football coach at Eastern Michigan University, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced today, April 11. Chestnut will serve as EMU's wide receivers coach.
"Coach Chestnut is a great addition to our staff," said Creighton. "He has great experience coaching wide receivers and recruiting. He knows this state and he knows the Mid-American Conference. We cannot wait to have him on the field and get started!"
Chestnut has 18 years of coaching experience at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), community college, and high school levels following a three year stint in the Arena Football League.
"I am super excited about the opportunity to be part of a great staff and football program," added Chestnut. " Coach Creighton has done an amazing job here at Eastern Michigan. I'm looking forward to being part of the continued success."
Most recently, Chestnut was an assistant coach at Western Michigan working with the tight ends (2021) and wide receivers (2022).
In 2022, wide receiver Corey Crooms collected Second Team All-Mid-American Conference honors after hauling in 54 balls for 814 yards and five touchdowns. Crooms was sixth in the league with 67.8 yards per game while finishing 10th with 4.8 receptions per contest. He torched Bowling Green State University for 151 yards on eight catches, while adding two receptions of 74-or-more yards on the season.
One season prior, Chestnut helped the Broncos capture the program's second bowl victory, knocking off Nevada, 52-24, in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit. All told, WMU ranked 12th nationally in total offense (466.4 ypg), while finishing 13th with 322 first downs and 34th in scoring offense (32.5 ppg).
Before returning to Kalamazoo, Chestnut spent two years in the same capacity at Western Kentucky University. Under Chestnut's guidance, WKU receivers had one of the best seasons in recent memory. Lucky Jackson had 94 receptions for 1,133 yards and four touchdowns, while Jahcour Pearson recorded 76 receptions for 804 yards and seven scores. Jackson and Pearson were only 1-of-5 FBS teammate duos who each had at least 75 catches and 800 yards.
Jackson set the all-time Hilltopper program record with 17 catches against Western Michigan in the First Responder Bowl after previously setting the record earlier in the season with 16 grabs at Marshall. Jackson garnered First Team All-Conference USA honors while Pearson received Second Team All-Conference USA recognition. Jackson was also added to the 2019 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
The Durham, N.C., native came to WKU following a three-year run on the coaching staff at Tennessee State, including the final two as wide receivers coach. Chestnut began his run on the staff as an offensive quality control coach working with the tight ends.
While at TSU, Chestnut was instrumental in the development of a wide receiving corps that included four receivers who caught at least 28 balls, led by junior Chris Rowland's 57 receptions for 727 yards. Rowland was named an All-Ohio Valley Conference second teamer as a wide receiver and return specialist, while Treon Harris, a former quarterback at Florida, completed his transition to wide receiver by tallying 35 receptions and five touchdowns, both the second-best marks on the Tiger squad.
Chestnut's work with receiver Patrick Smith in 2017 helped the senior receiver finish his career among the top five Tigers in career yards, receptions, and touchdowns. Smith led TSU in receiving in his final three seasons in Nashville.
Prior to going to TSU, Chestnut spent one season at the University of Miami (Fla.) as an offensive assistant which included time as the interim tight ends coach for the 2015.
Chestnut spent time in the high school ranks in his hometown of Durham, N.C., at Northern Durham High School where he was the offensive coordinator for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, his second stint at the school. He spent one season as a graduate assistant at the University of South Florida in 2012. Chestnut has also coached on the collegiate level at Campbell University (2010-11) and Ellsworth Community College (2009).
While at Ellsworth, Chestnut worked as the wide receivers coach for the 2009 Region IX Midwest Conference Champions and the 2009 Graphic Edge Bowl Champions. The offense he was part of ranked first in the nation and averaged 496 yards a game. His responsibilities included working with receiver Quintin Robinson, who was a first team NJCAA All-American and an all-conference selection.
Chestnut's coaching career began with his first stint at Northern Durham immediately following a collegiate playing career at College of the Canyons and Western Michigan.
He led Canyons in receiving each of his two seasons and was named All-Western State Conference First Team as a sophomore before transferring to WMU. As a junior, Chestnut started all 11 games and was a two-year letterman for the Broncos. He capped his career, which included 30 catches for 412 yards, by earning a captain's role as a senior in 2003.
Chestnut played professionally in the Arena Football League from 2004-06. He was in camp with the New York Dragon in 2004 and spent two years playing for the Las Vegas Gladiators (2004-05) and a year for the Georgia Wildcats (2006)
He received his bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Michigan in 2008.
Chestnut and his wife, Maria, have three children, Jaylon, Carter, and Christina.
"Coach Chestnut is a great addition to our staff," said Creighton. "He has great experience coaching wide receivers and recruiting. He knows this state and he knows the Mid-American Conference. We cannot wait to have him on the field and get started!"
Chestnut has 18 years of coaching experience at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), community college, and high school levels following a three year stint in the Arena Football League.
"I am super excited about the opportunity to be part of a great staff and football program," added Chestnut. " Coach Creighton has done an amazing job here at Eastern Michigan. I'm looking forward to being part of the continued success."
Most recently, Chestnut was an assistant coach at Western Michigan working with the tight ends (2021) and wide receivers (2022).
In 2022, wide receiver Corey Crooms collected Second Team All-Mid-American Conference honors after hauling in 54 balls for 814 yards and five touchdowns. Crooms was sixth in the league with 67.8 yards per game while finishing 10th with 4.8 receptions per contest. He torched Bowling Green State University for 151 yards on eight catches, while adding two receptions of 74-or-more yards on the season.
One season prior, Chestnut helped the Broncos capture the program's second bowl victory, knocking off Nevada, 52-24, in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit. All told, WMU ranked 12th nationally in total offense (466.4 ypg), while finishing 13th with 322 first downs and 34th in scoring offense (32.5 ppg).
Before returning to Kalamazoo, Chestnut spent two years in the same capacity at Western Kentucky University. Under Chestnut's guidance, WKU receivers had one of the best seasons in recent memory. Lucky Jackson had 94 receptions for 1,133 yards and four touchdowns, while Jahcour Pearson recorded 76 receptions for 804 yards and seven scores. Jackson and Pearson were only 1-of-5 FBS teammate duos who each had at least 75 catches and 800 yards.
Jackson set the all-time Hilltopper program record with 17 catches against Western Michigan in the First Responder Bowl after previously setting the record earlier in the season with 16 grabs at Marshall. Jackson garnered First Team All-Conference USA honors while Pearson received Second Team All-Conference USA recognition. Jackson was also added to the 2019 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.
The Durham, N.C., native came to WKU following a three-year run on the coaching staff at Tennessee State, including the final two as wide receivers coach. Chestnut began his run on the staff as an offensive quality control coach working with the tight ends.
While at TSU, Chestnut was instrumental in the development of a wide receiving corps that included four receivers who caught at least 28 balls, led by junior Chris Rowland's 57 receptions for 727 yards. Rowland was named an All-Ohio Valley Conference second teamer as a wide receiver and return specialist, while Treon Harris, a former quarterback at Florida, completed his transition to wide receiver by tallying 35 receptions and five touchdowns, both the second-best marks on the Tiger squad.
Chestnut's work with receiver Patrick Smith in 2017 helped the senior receiver finish his career among the top five Tigers in career yards, receptions, and touchdowns. Smith led TSU in receiving in his final three seasons in Nashville.
Prior to going to TSU, Chestnut spent one season at the University of Miami (Fla.) as an offensive assistant which included time as the interim tight ends coach for the 2015.
Chestnut spent time in the high school ranks in his hometown of Durham, N.C., at Northern Durham High School where he was the offensive coordinator for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, his second stint at the school. He spent one season as a graduate assistant at the University of South Florida in 2012. Chestnut has also coached on the collegiate level at Campbell University (2010-11) and Ellsworth Community College (2009).
While at Ellsworth, Chestnut worked as the wide receivers coach for the 2009 Region IX Midwest Conference Champions and the 2009 Graphic Edge Bowl Champions. The offense he was part of ranked first in the nation and averaged 496 yards a game. His responsibilities included working with receiver Quintin Robinson, who was a first team NJCAA All-American and an all-conference selection.
Chestnut's coaching career began with his first stint at Northern Durham immediately following a collegiate playing career at College of the Canyons and Western Michigan.
He led Canyons in receiving each of his two seasons and was named All-Western State Conference First Team as a sophomore before transferring to WMU. As a junior, Chestnut started all 11 games and was a two-year letterman for the Broncos. He capped his career, which included 30 catches for 412 yards, by earning a captain's role as a senior in 2003.
Chestnut played professionally in the Arena Football League from 2004-06. He was in camp with the New York Dragon in 2004 and spent two years playing for the Las Vegas Gladiators (2004-05) and a year for the Georgia Wildcats (2006)
He received his bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Michigan in 2008.
Chestnut and his wife, Maria, have three children, Jaylon, Carter, and Christina.
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