RELEASE (PDF)
KENNESAW, Ga. (April 16, 2013) –
Grant Chesnut, who has spent the past two seasons as athletic director and head coach at Central High School in Carrollton, Ga., and possess 14 years of coaching experience, has been named offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Kennesaw State, head football coach Brian Bohannon announced on Tuesday.
Chesnut’s hiring marks the first by Bohannon who was named the program’s first-ever head coach on Mar. 24.
“Grant is an outstanding coach and communicator. He believes in developing young men and helping them be successful in life,” Bohannon said. “Grant and I have a lot of similar philosophies and thoughts in the way we want to do things and he and I have established a relationship over the last couple of years.
“He understands what we do offensively and he’s been doing it at different places he’s been. He and I see things eye-to-eye on a lot of things,” Bohannon added. “Grant is very organized, very detailed, and he’s been on the road recruiting before. This won’t be his first time recruiting. I’m excited about what he brings to the table.”
A native of Snellville, Ga., Chesnut has been associated with winning programs throughout his career, and prior to taking over as head coach at Central High School, was recognized by the
Atlanta Journal Constitution as one of the Top 10 hires of 2011.
Chesnut was the offensive coordinator, offensive line and strength and conditioning coach at Class AAA Mary Persons (2007-10). Prior to his stint with the Bulldogs, he served as the defensive line coach at Camden County High School (2005-06), the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Thomasville High School (2002-04) and the offensive line coach at Pickens County High School (1999). Chesnut also was a defensive line coach at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. for two seasons (2000 and 2001) where the Blue Hose went a combined 15-6 (.714).
“My family and I are extremely humbled to be asked to be a part of the Kennesaw State community,” Chesnut said. “There is a tremendous amount of excitement surrounding KSU at this time. We feel that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of the building of a Division I football program.
“We are extremely excited about being a part of the vision and culture that Coach Bohannon is bringing to the Kennesaw State football program,” Chesnut added.
Chesnut took over a Central High School team that went 0-10 in 2010 and guided the Lions to a 4-6 record in 2011 and 5-6 mark in 2012. Last season’s team advanced to the Georgia state playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
During Chesnut’s four seasons at Mary Persons High, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 27-15 (.643). In two years at Camden County, he helped guide the Wildcats to a 22-3 (.880) mark that included an Elite Eight appearance and Region 3 AAAAA championship in 2005. The 2006 squad reached the Sweet Sixteen and captured the Region 3 AAAAA championship.
While working on the defensive side of the ball for three seasons at Thomasville High, Chesnut was part of a coaching staff that led the Bulldogs to a 24-9 (.727) overall record and won three regional titles.
During his junior and senior seasons as an offensive tackle at Georgia Southern, Chesnut was part of Eagle teams that won the Southern Conference Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs in 1997 and advanced to the 1998 NCAA national championship game, finishing the year with a 14-1 record.
Chesnut earned a bachelor’s degree in social science education from Georgia Southern in 1999 and a master’s in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2004.
Chesnut, who played high school football at Brookwood High in Snellville, is married to the former Heather Harris, and the couple has three daughters – Brin (5), Allie Grace (3) and Eva Claire (6 months).
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Kennesaw State is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
