CLEVELAND, Miss. – After turning North Greenville University, one of the nation's youngest NCAA Division II football programs, into a regional power in just three years, Delta State University director of athletics Jeremy McClain named Jamey Chadwell head coach of the Statesman football program on Monday, Jan. 2. Chadwell will begin his duties immediately and has already started to assemble his staff.
Chadwell, who will be the 18th head coach in school history, will be introduced to the campus and community on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 11 a.m. inside the Simmons Room at the Hugh Ellis Walker Alumni House. The public is invited to attend.
Chadwell, 35, spent the last three seasons as head coach of North Greenville, where he quickly built the Crusader program into one of the region's top teams. Prior to his arrival on the Tigerville, S.C., campus, the Crusaders had garnered just five wins against NCAA Division II opponents in school history. In his three seasons as head coach, Chadwell amassed a 22-14 record with 20 wins coming in the last two seasons.
After a 2-8 inaugural season in 2009, Chadwell's 2010 club began the march to regional success with a 9-3 record. The Crusaders, who compete as a dual member of the NCAA and the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association, captured the NCCAA National Championship with a win over Campbellsville (Ky.) in the Victory Bowl.
Chadwell had quickly made a name for himself with wins over NCAA DI-FCS member Presbyterian College and DII regional foe North Carolina Pembroke. That success parlayed itself into the 2011 campaign.
With expectations at an all-time high for the Crusaders, Chadwell engineered an 11-3 season, advancing all the way to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals before losing 28-23 to Delta State at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. NGU accomplished the feat with a nearly unstoppable spread-option attack that averaged 40.1 points per game and 434.1 yards of total offense.
Chadwell's turnaround of the program was virtually complete. NGU finished the year with back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in program history. The 2011 Crusaders also finished the season ranked No. 12 nationally in the American Football Coaches Association DII Top 25, marking the first time an NGU team has garnered a spot in one of the nation's official media/coaches' polls.
A believer in a well-rounded approach to leading a program, Chadwell implemented an offseason leadership and community service program at NGU that paid tremendous dividends to the staff, program and school. He also delivered on his promise to improve academics within the program, by increasing the team GPA each year.
Prior to coming to NGU, Chadwell solidified himself as one of the nation's top young offensive minds at Charleston Southern University, a member of NCAA DI-FCS. From 2004 to 2008, he served as an assistant on head coach Jay Mills' staff. Chadwell began his time at CSU as the Buccaneers' recruiting coordinator, where he recruited Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and the southeast.
In 2005, CSU claimed the Big South Conference title with a 7-4 record and a 3-1 ledger in the league. The 2006 campaign saw Chadwell make the switch to receivers while continuing to server the Bucs as recruiting coordinator.
Following the 2006 season, Mills' promoted Chadwell to Assistant Head Coach and the former East Tennessee State quarterback would finish out his time at Charleston Southern in that capacity. During his five seasons with Mills, CSU accumulated 28 wins and one Big South Conference title.
Chadwell began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater ETSU in 2000. From 2000-2003, the former Anderson County High School star worked with quarterbacks, tight ends and running backs while assisting with recruiting and offensive game planning.
As a four-year letterman for the Buccaneers, Chadwell spent two seasons as a co-starter at quarterback. He was twice named Team Captain and he helped lead ETSU to the Southern Conference title game two times during his career (1995-1999).
He received his bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Education in May 2000 from East Tennessee State. He also completed his master's in Business Administration from Charleston Southern in May 2006. Both times finishing his coursework with a 3.3 or higher cumulative GPA.
Chadwell is married to the former Solmaz Zarrineh and the couple has one son, Jameson (2).
THE CHADWELL FILE
• Known as one of the nation's top young offensive minds, his spread-option offense has wreaked havoc on NCAA Super Region II the past three seasons, including 2011 averages of 40.1 points and 434.1 yards of total offense per game
• An energetic recruiter with experience in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, California and the southeast
• Posted a 22-14 record as a collegiate head coach in three seasons at North Greenville University
• Crusaders claimed 20 wins over the last two seasons with a 9-3 record in 2010 and an 11-3 mark in 2011
• Prior to Chadwell's arrival, NGU had just five wins all-time against NCAA Division II opponents
• 2011 NGU Crusaders advanced to NCAA DII Quarterfinals before falling to Delta State 28-23 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium
• Spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Charleston Southern (2004-2008), including two as Assistant Head Coach
• Began his collegiate coaching career at East Tennessee State (2000-2003)
• Player quarterback at East Tennessee State, where he was a two-year co-starter and Team Captain
• Holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Economics and Business Administration
• Married the former Solmaz Zarrineh in 2005 and the couple has one son, Jameson (2)
