Should and will Assumption College's Bob Chesney take the open Holy Cross position?

For a small, liberal arts, Catholic college based in Worcester, Mass., the Assumption College football team surely has made a name for themselves. This season alone the team finished with an 11-1 record, won its first two games in the NCAA Division II National playoffs and will take on the No. 1 Indiana (Pa.) Crimson Hawks. The Crimson Hawks are 12-0 on the season and are 18-2 in their last 20 games spanning across the last two seasons. A win for the Greyhounds on Saturday would be a huge statement.

            Behind all of the top athletes such as Deonte Harris, Ashton Grant, Ray Sarkodieh and everyone else on the team’s roster is one man, a common name on the college’s campus: head coach Bob Chesney. Chesney is in his fifth year coaching the team and has a 56-23 overall record (a .710 winning percentage).  His teams have ranked nationally among Division II programs in multiple seasons, have made the national tournament three years in a row and won one playoff game.

I once wrote about coach Chesney while at the school on his team and how they use film for preparation and recruiting. I’ve talked to many people close to the team who I trust. One piece of information stood out greatly.

People close to Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, an Assumption College alumni, told me that Kelly believes the school doesn’t know how good of a coach they have in Chesney. Multiple people close to the situation say that Kelly would add Chesney to his staff "in a heartbeat" if Chesney wanted, but does not want to take him away from the college. Notre Dame football. That’s telling of Chesney’s ability.

Back on Oct. 16, The College of the Holy Cross fired head football coach Tom Gilmore after a terrible 32-0 loss to Yale. Stationed out of Worcester as well, the opportunity seems like a great opportunity for Chesney.
And according to sources linked closely to Holy Cross athletics and alumni, Chesney is the favorite candidate.

Chesney has had success at the Division II level and it seems natural to move on to a Division I program. UCLA was not going to be knocking on any doors. But a good fit for Chesney is a program the likes of Holy Cross, or UMass Amherst, Yale those types of programs. What many believe would stop Chesney is moving his family. His father is on the sidelines for games, has littlel children and is in no danger of losing his job. Many believe Chesney has power within Assumption athletics. I have been told the main reason why Chesney would not accept the position is because he doesn’t want to move his family.

Insert Holy Cross.

Holy Cross is an ideal situation for Chesney. He doesn’t have to move. He takes over a Division I school and will have full reign to rebuild the program. Former Assumption College athletic director Nick Smith, who has a good relationship with Chesney, now works for Holy Cross athletics. Rebuilding would not be an easy task for Chesney. Assumption is in the same position however. They graduate their two quarterbacks, three receivers, their top running back and top players on the defensive line. Why rebuild at the DII level when you can rebuild at the DI level?

What would stop Holy Cross from making Chesney the next head football coach? I have been told they want to see him win playoff games. Prior to this season, Chesney's teams have only made the playoffs twice. Some believe Holy Cross feels his playoffs appearances indicate Chesney is a good coach but not quite there yet when it comes to the winning department. 

If Chesney is offered to become the next head coach of Holy Cross football but declines, expect Chesney to stay at Assumption College for many years to come.