GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Head Football Coach Billy Napier announced Friday the addition of Gerald Chatman as the Gators’ next defensive line coach.
“We are excited to welcome Gerald and Lauren, along with Kinley, Amelia, Maya and Tyson, to our Gators family,” Napier said. “He will do a great job with our defensive line. Gerald has proven to be an effective teacher, motivator, mentor and recruiter throughout his career. His experience in the SEC, NFL and other levels of football will be beneficial. We are excited to get to work alongside Gerald as he starts his journey at UF.”
“My family and I are excited to join the University of Florida,” Chatman said. “I look forward to relentlessly working with coach Napier, the staff, and players to uphold the standard of the historic Gators football program. I embrace the challenge.”
Chatman joins the Gators after serving as Tulane’s defensive line coach during the 2023 season. The Green Wave defense ranked eighth in the county in rush defense (93.5 yards per game), fourth in turnovers gained (25), T-22nd in sacks (34), T-25th in tackles for loss (82.0).
Tulane’s defensive line group has totaled 52.5 tackles for loss, 27 sacks, 15 quarterback hurries, five forced fumbles and four pass breakups. Chatman guided Patrick Jenkins, who was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Defensive Lineman and Interior Defensive Lineman of the Year. Jenkins and fellow defensive lineman Darius Hodges were both named to the ACC First Team.
Before his return to Tulane, Chatman spent the spring portion as LSU’s interim defensive line coach in 2023 before being hired by the Green Wave in May. He served in the same capacity (defensive line coach) at Colorado this season prior and was elevated to defensive coordinator midway through the fall.
Chatman made his way back to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2021 as a defensive line analyst at LSU. He worked with NFL Draft picks Neil Farrell (4th round) and Andre Anthony (7th round).
Reached out to @BlakeJRuffino of @AYSSPORTS on DL coach Gerald Chatman…
“Very green to recruiting, but one of the best DL developers in the game.”
“LSU DL guys said he is a tactician”
“Great developer. Great hire by Billy Napier.”
Good intel on Gators likely new DL Coach.
— David Waters – Gators Breakdown (@GatorDave_SEC) December 20, 2023
He spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals as a defensive assistant, where he worked primarily with the team’s defensive ends and outside linebackers. He helped the defensive line improve significantly in quarterback sacks and rushing yards allowed in those two seasons that set up Cincinnati’s run to the Super Bowl. While with the Bengals, he coached former Gator Carlos Dunlap among a talented group that included Mike Daniels, Geno Atkins, Sam Hubbard, Josh Tupou and Carl Lawson.
Chatman also gained experience in the National Football League (NFL) as a defensive line coaching intern through the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship program, which takes place during summer camps. In 2015, he worked with the Green Bay Packers, assisting with the defensive line and linebacker units and was a participant in the NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy. The following year he spent a portion of the preseason with the Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos and then in 2018 with the Bengals at OTA’s and camp.
Before his time with the Bengals, Chatman spent two seasons (2017-18) at Tennessee State, as the defensive ends and linebackers’ coach. In his second season, he added special team’s coordinator duties. That year, he coached three special teams players to All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, including Chris Rowland, the OVC special teams’ player of the year (he averaged 13.0 yards per punt return). Additionally, he mentored kicker Antonio Zita to Phil Steele Freshman All-American honors. Chatman also guided defensive end Mekhi Brown to second-team All-OVC honors, after posting 6.5 tackles for losses and four sacks.
In his first season at Tennessee State, he helped guide the Tigers’ defense to average yields of just 19.6 points and 278.5 yards per game, ranking seventh in total defense in the FCS.
Prior to TSU he worked at Elon University, where he was the defensive line coach for the 2016 campaign.
In 2015, Chatman made his first stop in the SEC. He was a graduate assistant at Texas A&M where he worked directly with legendary SEC defensive line coach Terry Price, who he credits as someone who made a big impact on his career.
During his time with the Aggies, Chatman worked directly with defensive end Myles Garrett, the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick in 2017 and an All-SEC and All-America selection.
Chatman spent the 2014 campaign as the defensive line coach and assistant recruiting coordinator at Butler University. The defensive line played a key role in the Bulldogs leading the Pioneer Football League in rushing defense and being second in sacks.
He began his coaching career in the role of a defensive graduate assistant at Ball State for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, with the Cardinals going 19-7 over those two years (13-3 in Mid-American Conference games) and earned bowl invitations both seasons. Chatman also oversaw the development of Cardinals DE Jonathan Newsome, who earned first-team All-MAC honors and later was selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft.
A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Chatman graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Educational Leadership and Human Service. He earned four letters playing both defensive end and tackle for the Titans from 2006-10. He also holds a master of arts degree in adult and community education from Ball State University.
Chatman and his wife, Lauren, have four children; Kinley, 7, Amelia, 4, Maya, 2 and Tyson, 1.
Coaching Experience
2023: Tulane (Defensive Line Coach)
2023: LSU (Interim Defensive Line Coach – Spring)
2022: Colorado (Defensive Coordinator/ Defensive Line Coach)
2022: Tulane (Defensive Line Coach – Spring)
2021: LSU (Linebackers / Defensive Line Analyst)
2019-20: Cincinnati Bengals (Defensive Assistant Coach – Defensive Ends/Outside Linebackers)
2017-18: Tennessee State University (Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach)
2016: Elon (Defensive Line Coach)
2016: Denver Broncos (Defensive Coaching Intern – Summer)
2015: Texas A&M (Graduate Assistant – Defense)
2015: Green Bay Packers (Defensive Coaching Intern – Summer)
2014: Butler (Defensive Line Coach / Asst. Recruiting Coordinator)
2012-13: Ball State (Graduate Assistant – Defense)
2010-11: Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Defensive Line Coach)
NFL Players Mentored by Chatman *(teams drafted by/signed by)
Myles Garrett (DE): Cleveland Browns – 2017, 1st Round.
BJ Ojulari (DE): Arizona Cardinal – 2023, 2nd Round.
Daeshon Hall (DE): Carolina Panthers – 2017, 3rd Round.
Neil Farrell (DT): Las Vegas Raiders – 2022, 4th Round.
Jonathan Newsome (DE): Indianapolis Colts – 2014, 5th Round.
Kingsley Keke (DT): Green Bay Packers – 2019, 5th Round.
Daylon Mack (NT): Baltimore Ravens – 2019, 5th Round.
Jaquelin Roy (DT): Minnesota Vikings – 2023, 5th Round.
Andre Anthony (DE): Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2022, 7th Round.
Ali Gaye (DE): Houston Texans – UDFA
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