JMU Football has officially added Colin Hitcher to its staff as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Hitschler replaced Lyle Hemphill and set out for assistant work at Texas A&M.
“We are thrilled to welcome Colin and his family into the JMU football family,” coach Bob Chesney said in a press release. “Colin is an outstanding football coach who has played an integral role in the success of many high-level programs. His overall record speaks for itself, and his ability to develop his players into NFL talent. is something he has demonstrated throughout his career. We look forward to Colin making an immediate impact here at JMU.”
Hitchler spent 2024 as Alabama co-defense coordinator before being fired in the offseason, and was Cincinnati co-defense coordinator in 2022 and Wisconsin co-defense coordinator in 2023. . He also worked with Chesney at Salve Regina over a decade ago.
Here are three things fans should know about Dukes’ new DC:
Despite Alabama’s firing, he is overqualified
JMU is fortunate enough to land the hitcher. Yes, he was fired by Alabama, but the situation requires context.
Kalen Daboer went 9-4 in his first season, replacing perhaps the best college coach of all time, Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide missed the 12-team playoffs, the red flag for fans. Daboer was unable to pass the offseason without any changes. He needs to improve immediately to keep his job in the pressure packed SEC.
Does that mean Hitschler is a bad coach? Heck no. Alabama is likely to have too many cooks in the kitchen last year, with two co-defensive coordinators, including a defensive coordinator and Hitschler. The crimson tide had a surplus of voices trying to interact with the defensive and defensive backfield. For some reason, Daboer decides that Hittler is a strange man.
Regardless of why Hitschler’s time at Tuscaloosa ended, it is not common for Sunbelt programs to acquire a coordinator with this rather high level of coaching experience at such a young age. Despite not yet turning 40, Hitschler is the co-defensive coordinator for three power conference programs (Cincinnati, Wisconsin and Alabama).
He coached Cincinnati safety in 2021, making four-team college football playoffs as a group of five teams. His defenses in 2022, 2023 and 2024 were all exceptional against passes, being in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense. He coaches several NFL defensive backs, including a handful of time with Cincinnati.
JMU’s defenses include defensive tackle Immanuel Bush, linebacker Trent Hendrick, Gannon Weathersby, Difensed Backs Chauncey Logan, DJ Barksdale, Jacob Thomas, and more. Returning many talents in 5 years. Dukes also has multiple titles including cornerbacks Meki Rogers (St. Francis), Chanz Harley (Maryland), defensive Xavier Holmes (Mayne) and Safety Curtis Harris Lopez (Holy Cross). We have added shock transfer.
On paper, the Dukes has one of the most talented defenses in a group of five for Hitschler to mold. It’s an ideal marriage.
He is the top recruiter
Athletic profiled Hittler’s role in Wisconsin recruitment in August 2023 and shared how it helped build an impressive 2024 recruitment class for the Badgers. The Wisconsin class ranked 23rd nationally in 2024 per 247 sports.
Hitchler recruitment areas in Wisconsin include Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, which are naturally fit for recruiting at JMU. The Badgers’ top three recruits in the 2024 class were from Pennsylvania and Maryland. Even if he didn’t stay at JMU Long, his ability to attract recruits to Harrisonburg in both the Spring Portal and the class of 2026 should prove worthwhile.
His recruitment abilities have won the top 20 rankings on the list of 247Sports’ best recruiters in the 2024 class. He understands the East Coast and contributed to Wisconsin, building a strong class in 2024.
Hitschler’s developmental track record is impressive in this field. On the Recruit Trail, he shows himself as one of the top sales reps in the country, and should fit well with Chesney’s energetic approach to bringing new talent.
“Colin is a straight shooter. I love the way he hires. He’s honest and I appreciate it,” a high school coach told Athletic.
That coincides with what Recruit said to us about his interactions with Chesney.
He works with Chesney
The Dukes wanted to keep Henhill up, but it is beneficial that Hittler had previously worked with Chesney. In 2011, Hitschler was the special team coordinator and defensive line coach for Salve Regina’s Chesney. The program left that year at 8-3 before Hischler left to raise his coaching rank.
They spent a season together, but previous connections and relationships should help reduce the potential learning curve associated with collaborating. This makes JMU worth noting across the coaching staff.
JMU returns Chesney, the offensive coordinator (Dean Kennedy), a special team coordinator (Drew Canan), and takes Hitchler to lead defense and former Holy Cross staff member Chris Groutski to carry out the strength and conditioning program. I will.
“Chris and I are part of seven champion seasons and we look forward to more,” Chesney said in a press release last month.
It is difficult to overstate the importance of comfort and familiarity between coaches. Having a veteran strength coach and coordinator you know well will allow for a critical level of trust on Saturdays and throughout the offseason. Unlike last season, JMU does not have to spend spring and summer scramblings to build a roster and find a cohesive. Instead, the Dukes could tweak their offensive plans to maintain success until November after dropping two games in the final month of fall last year.
In his second year as a Chesney, he had a friendly coaching experience, with significantly lower roster sales than his first season of work. On paper, everything is well set up to help JMU strive for 10 wins and meeting titles. If the Dukes are largely healthy, the college football playoff look like a realistic stretch goal.
Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications
