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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Chesney Hires Chris Smith as New Offensive Line Coach
3/26/2024 5:00:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison Head Football Coach Bob Chesney announced the addition of Chris Smith as the program's new offensive line coach and run game coordinator.
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Smith, who spent the 2023 season as assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants, officially began with the Dukes on Monday. Prior to the 2023 season, Smith coached under Chesney at Holy Cross, serving as offensive line coach and later offensive coordinator in his final season in 2022.
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"He's a very competitive person, he's also a very smart person both on and off the field, but he brings all of it," Chesney said Tuesday. "We speak the same language. We've been together a very long time and I trust his vision, I trust what he sees, I trust the things he believes in, and we've had success doing it, so I'm excited to have him here with us at JMU."
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During his time with the Crusaders (2017-22), he helped the program to four straight Patriot League championships and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff berths.
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Smith helped lift the Holy Cross offense to new heights while leading the offense in 2022, as the Crusaders set a program record for wins (12) and advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 1983. The Crusaders ranked first in the nation in fewest turnovers (6), fumbling just once. Holy Cross additionally ranked second in FCS in yards per completion (16.2), sixth in rushing offense (245.1 yards per game) and eighth in scoring offense (37.4 points per game). HC produced its first pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the same season while a program-record 12 players were named All-Patriot League on the offensive side of the ball.
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While guiding the Crusader offensive line, Holy Cross was widely respected as having one of the top offensive lines in all of FCS, which included all five linemen earning All-PL honors in 2022, which included Luke Newman and Nick Olsofka being named All-Americans.
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Before returning to his alma mater, Smith coached three seasons at New Haven (2014-16) as offensive line coach and run game coordinator. He also had stops at Northern Colorado (2012-13) and Buffalo (2010-11).
Smith is a 2009 graduate of Holy Cross and was a four-year starting center for the Crusaders. He earned second team All-Patriot League honors as a senior, and still holds the school record for the most consecutive games started (45). Smith was a four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection and was a semifinalist for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy, given annually to the nation's top scholar-athlete.
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Smith replaces Damian Wroblewski, who accepted the offensive line position at the University of Maryland.
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JMU is amidst its second week of spring practice, which will be capped off by the 2024 Spring Game on Saturday, April 20 at 2:30 p.m. inside Bridgeforth Stadium.
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Smith, who spent the 2023 season as assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants, officially began with the Dukes on Monday. Prior to the 2023 season, Smith coached under Chesney at Holy Cross, serving as offensive line coach and later offensive coordinator in his final season in 2022.
Â
"He's a very competitive person, he's also a very smart person both on and off the field, but he brings all of it," Chesney said Tuesday. "We speak the same language. We've been together a very long time and I trust his vision, I trust what he sees, I trust the things he believes in, and we've had success doing it, so I'm excited to have him here with us at JMU."
Â
During his time with the Crusaders (2017-22), he helped the program to four straight Patriot League championships and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff berths.
Â
Smith helped lift the Holy Cross offense to new heights while leading the offense in 2022, as the Crusaders set a program record for wins (12) and advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 1983. The Crusaders ranked first in the nation in fewest turnovers (6), fumbling just once. Holy Cross additionally ranked second in FCS in yards per completion (16.2), sixth in rushing offense (245.1 yards per game) and eighth in scoring offense (37.4 points per game). HC produced its first pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the same season while a program-record 12 players were named All-Patriot League on the offensive side of the ball.
Â
While guiding the Crusader offensive line, Holy Cross was widely respected as having one of the top offensive lines in all of FCS, which included all five linemen earning All-PL honors in 2022, which included Luke Newman and Nick Olsofka being named All-Americans.
Â
Before returning to his alma mater, Smith coached three seasons at New Haven (2014-16) as offensive line coach and run game coordinator. He also had stops at Northern Colorado (2012-13) and Buffalo (2010-11).
Smith is a 2009 graduate of Holy Cross and was a four-year starting center for the Crusaders. He earned second team All-Patriot League honors as a senior, and still holds the school record for the most consecutive games started (45). Smith was a four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection and was a semifinalist for the 2009 William V. Campbell Trophy, given annually to the nation's top scholar-athlete.
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Smith replaces Damian Wroblewski, who accepted the offensive line position at the University of Maryland.
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JMU is amidst its second week of spring practice, which will be capped off by the 2024 Spring Game on Saturday, April 20 at 2:30 p.m. inside Bridgeforth Stadium.
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