Gerald Chatman, who served two seasons with the football staff at Ball State, joined Butler's football staff in the spring of 2014. He has responsibility for Butler's defensive linemen and will also work as an assistant recruiting coordinator.
Chatman has attended multiple coaching academy's during his time at Butler University. In the winter of 2015, Chatman was selected to participate in the NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy. The three-day academy helps coaches expand their knowledge and insight into the world of intercollegiate football coaching. Staff members from the academy educate and train participants in a variety of areas that encourages effective coaching and improves student-athlete well being at both the intercollegiate and professional levels. Chatman has also been involved with the Future Football Coaches Academy.
Before arriving at Butler, Chatman was a graduate assistant coach at Ball State working with the defensive line. During his two seasons, the Cardinals racked up 19 wins and made two consecutive bowl appearances. In his first season at Ball State, the Cardinals posted a 9-4 record and earned a berth in the Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl. Last fall, Ball State finished with a 10-3 record and appeared in the GoDaddy Bowl. It was only the second time in school history that the Cardinals made back-to-back bowl appearances.
Chatman mentored two high-profile defensive ends while coaching at Ball State. Jonathan Newsome earned First Team All-Mid American Conference honors under the guidance of Chatman after transferring to Ball State from Ohio State. Upon graduation, the Cleveland, Ohio native was selected in the fifth round (166 overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. The second Cardinal to earn all-conference honors under Chatman was defensive tackle Nathan Ollie, a powerful defensive tackle out of Chicago, Ill. Ollie was a staple on the BSU defensive line as he earned all-conference honors in three out of his four seasons as a Cardinal.
Prior to taking the graduate assistant position at Ball State, Chatman served for two years as a student assistant defensive line coach at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
Chatman was a defensive lineman at Wisconsin Oshkosh, 2006-09. He received a B.S. degree in educational leadership and human services from Wisconsin Oshkosh, and he earned his master's degree in adult and community education at Ball State.
