Chesney Completes Coaching Staff, Transue Promoted to Assistant AD

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Head Coach Bob Chesney announced the completion of his football coaching staff with three hires, while Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne announced the promotion of Matt Transue to Assistant Athletic Director for Football Administration.

Chesney adds Jordan Smith as director of football operations, Nathan Applebaum as director of player personnel and Ukoh Essang as a defensive graduate assistant.

"A strong support staff is crucial to the success of any modern-day football program," Chesney said. "I'm pleased to have Matt Transue return in his new role overseeing our football administration, as well as adding Jordan Smith as director of football operations, Nathan Applebaum as our director of player personnel and Ukoh Essang as our Defensive GA. They are rarely in the spotlight, but on a day-to-day basis, ensure that our players are. I'm excited to get to work with Matt, Jordan, Nathan and Ukoh as we embark on this new era of JMU football."

"We're excited to move Matt into this new role supporting our football program," Bourne said. "Matt filled a key behind-the-scenes role previously as our director of football operations, and we all witnessed the high quality of his work and attention to detail. This new role is a win-win both for Matt's career progression with more administrative impact as well as for JMU Athletics and how we manage all aspects of our football program."

Transue transitions from his former title of senior director of football operations to his new role, in which he serves as the sport supervisor for the football program and the liaison for the Director of Athletics and head football coach. Transue also becomes a member of the JMU Athletics senior staff and takes over football scheduling duties.

He just completed his second season with the program, aiding the program in its first two seasons in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He has eight years of full-time FBS experience having served as director of football operations at Georgia Southern (2021) and six seasons in various roles at Virginia Tech (2016-21).

Smith comes to JMU after spending four seasons on the staff at Holy Cross. He was Chesney's director of operations during the 2022 and 2023 seasons while also working as the digital operations and video coordinator role for the Crusader program for the 2020 and 2021 campaigns. Before HC, Smith was video coordinator and operations assistant from 2017-19 at Dayton.

Applebaum heads to Harrisonburg in a key recruiting role after serving as assistant director of player personnel for the past two seasons at Fresno State (2022-23). Prior to Fresno, Applebaum was a player personnel and recruiting assistant at Michigan State (2021) for one year. He began his career at Florida (2018-20), where for three seasons he worked in player personnel and video operations.

Essang joins the program after spending the 2023 season in the same role at Buffalo where he worked with the defensive line. Last season the Bulls led the Mid-American Conference in forced fumbles and pass defense while being second in third-down defense, fewest first downs allowed and interceptions and third in scoring defense. Prior to Buffalo, Essang was a defensive GA at Pttsburg State (2021-22).

Click here for the full 2024 JMU football coaching staff.

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