Football Stars and Coaches of Holy Cross University persist in following Bob Chesney to James Madison University
In the world of sports, change is often a constant. This is no different for the Holy Cross football team, as several players and coaches have made the move to James Madison University (JMU), a shift that has had a significant impact on both programs.
The Crusaders, under the leadership of former head coach Bob Chesney, had been on a remarkable streak, winning five consecutive Patriot League titles. Among the standout players in this run was quarterback Matthew Sluka and safety Curtis Harris-Lopez, who each contributed to four consecutive titles. However, this season marked a new chapter for Holy Cross as Chesney, Sluka, Harris-Lopez, and several other key players made the transition to JMU, an FBS program.
Chesney's arrival at JMU brought about a swift and sustained competitive success for the Dukes. In just 12 months, Chesney led JMU from a state of transition chaos to a 9-4 record with a bowl victory. This quick turnaround under Chesney signals a highly effective transfer of coaching expertise from Holy Cross to JMU.
On the player side, transfers from Holy Cross also bolstered JMU’s roster. Jordan Fuller, a running back transferred from Holy Cross, joined a strong backfield rotation at JMU alongside players like George Pettaway and Wayne Knight, enhancing JMU’s explosive play potential. Additionally, players with Holy Cross backgrounds have gained starting roles and strong track records, exemplified by those with many consecutive starts.
The movement of coaches and players from Holy Cross to JMU has had a ripple effect, contributing to Holy Cross's program transition and JMU’s rapid rise in the competitive Sun Belt Conference. Coaches such as offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy, special teams coordinator Drew Canan, offensive line and run game coordinator Chris Smith, safeties coach and recruiting coordinator Anthony DiMichele, cornerbacks coach Kyle Barnes, running backs coach Mike Cordova, director of football operations Jordan Smith, and strength and conditioning coach Chris Grautski all made the move to JMU.
Meanwhile, Holy Cross is under new leadership, with Dan Curran taking over as the new coach. While the team has lost key personnel, the move highlights a broader trend of talent and coaching migration benefiting JMU’s rapid rise in the competitive Sun Belt Conference.
As the dust settles on this season, one thing is clear: the moves made by Holy Cross and JMU have set the stage for an exciting future in college football.
[1] Source: James Madison University Athletics
[2] Source: James Madison University Athletics
[3] Source: Sun Belt Conference
[4] Source: Sun Belt Conference
[5] Source: James Madison University Athletics
This article was written by Ben Lepper '25, the Chief Sports Editor for the news outlet.
- The shift in personnel, as several coaches and players from Holy Cross University moved to James Madison University (JMU), has significantly impacted both programs, with JMU experiencing a quick turnaround under the new leadership of Bob Chesney, as they finished the season with a 9-4 record and a bowl victory.
- The transfer of athletes from Holy Cross to JMU, such as Jordan Fuller, has bolstered JMU's roster, especially in the running back position, where Fuller joined players like George Pettaway and Wayne Knight.
- The Sun Belt Conference has benefited from this talent and coaching migration, as coaches like Dean Kennedy, Drew Canan, Chris Smith, Anthony DiMichele, Kyle Barnes, Mike Cordova, Jordan Smith, and Chris Grautski moved from Holy Cross to JMU.
- With the departures from Holy Cross and the arrivals at JMU, both universities are embarking on new chapters in their sports programs, setting the stage for an exciting future in college football.
