Catawba College’s search for a new head football coach ended much quicker than originally expected.
Athletic Director Dennis Davidson, with word that David Bennett had accepted the Coastal Carolina job, had already began to formulate a search committee.
Davidson did have two Catawba assistants already in mind, though, and met with Chip Hester the day after Bennett made his decision.
Davidson quickly figured out no committee would be needed.
Hester, who served as the wide receivers coach and coordinated the passing game this past season, was formally introduced as Catawba’s football coach on Friday at a press conference at Western Steer.
Hester, 31, becomes the 20th football coach in Indian history.
“A lot of people would think I’m crazy for wanting to follow in David Bennett’s footsteps, and I might be,”Hester said. “But I know I believe in this program.”
Hester met with Davidson shortly after Catawba’s coaching position became vacant, and he talked about his love for the players and his concern for them during this trying time.
Davidson was impressed enough to contact senior vice president Tom Childress and convince him the search should wrap up before it had even really started.
“I went to Tom and said, ‘Do we need a committee, we’ve got the guy right here,’ ” Davidson said. “That’s why we moved so quickly, because he was very proud, very happy and wanted to stay down here.”
Hester actually got his start at Catawba in 1993 working as an intern for Davidson in the sports information office.
Hester became a graduate assistant in 1993 before joining Bennett’s staff late in 1994.
“When David took over, I think the first person he called to join his staff was Chip Hester,”Davidson said.
Hester was one of two Indian assistants on Davidson’s list of possible replacements.
Davidson asked both Hester and offensive coordinator Jamie Snyder if they were interested. Snyder, along with defensive coordinator Curtis Walker and quarterbacks coach Kevin Brown, opted to follow Bennett to Coastal Carolina.
Hester decided to stay, along with defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, defensive backs coach Bob Lancaster, running backs coach Matt Barrett and tight ends coach Joe Todd.
“We all three are very happy and very excited that Chip is the man and has been asked to lead this program,”Todd said.
Hester’s first task will be to complete his depleted staff. Hester interviewed a candidate for the offensive coordinator job before his press conference on Friday and expects his decision to come in the next week or so.
“I would feel like we hit the jackpot if we could get him,” Hester said. “It’s going to be challenging.”
Tomsula could become Hester’s defensive coordinator, but the veteran assistant has been vacationing with his family and hasn’t had a chance to sit down with Hester.
Tomsula coaches the defensive line for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe, which could pose a problem because the three-month season begins in March.
“I’ve got Jimmy in mind, but I have to talk to him and see what his plans are,”Hester said.“He does NFL Europe, and so that will be a factor.”
Hester hopes to have his staff intact by the time Catawba’s players return on Jan. 13.
Hester said he has called about but about 15 of them, and none said they had plans to transfer.
“Priority one was recruiting our own players, and not necessarily to Coastal Carolina, but to anywhere,” Hester said. “Talking to all our players, I’ve really had a positive response from all the guys. There is not one that has said that’s he’s leaving.”
Hester also arrives with strong support from school president Fred Corriher, who introduced Hester at the press conference.
“He is a person of enormous personal character and exemplifies this in every phase of his life,” Corriher said. “He fully understands that football is still only a game, and that it is secondary to faith and family — and to education in the whole scheme of things.”
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Contact Bret Strelow at 704-797-4258 or bstrelow@salisburypost.com
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