Baylor to hire former All-SEC linebacker Jamar Chaney to coach linebackers

Baylor is set to hire Western Kentucky outside linebackers coach Jamar Chaney to coach its inside linebackers, SicEm365 has learned. The report was first made by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

The news comes days after former Baylor inside linebackers coach Christian Robinson was hired by Alabama in the same position. 

During the off season, head coach Dave Aranda made a major change defensively, announcing the plans for the one-time high profile defensive coordinator to take over play calling and be the defensive coordinator for the Bears during his fifth season in Waco. With that change, Aranda is expected to also coach the interior linebackers.

Chaney is set to work alongside and learn from Aranda during the spring and 2024 season. Chaney is expected to make a strong impression on the recruiting trail as long as being an up and coming defensive assistant.

Chaney arrived at WKU in 2023 after leaving University of Florida where he was a recruiting coordinator and defensive analyst working with the team’s linebackers in 2022. Chaney and the Gators started the season with a big win over No. 7 Utah before eventually earning an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl. Chaney also spent the 2019 campaign with Florida as the assistant director of player personnel. That year, Florida went an impressive 11-2, capped by a 36-28 victory over Virginia in the Orange Bowl.
 
Between stops at Florida, Chaney worked as a senior defensive analyst for his alma mater, Mississippi State. The 2021 season saw the Bulldogs play in the Liberty Bowl and earn big victories over Texas A&M and Auburn. Before joining Florida to break into the college coaching ranks, Chaney was head coach of his alma mater, St. Lucie West Centennial High School, where he went 11-8-1 and coached the school to its first playoff appearance in seven seasons.
 
Chaney played linebacker at Mississippi State for four seasons and was a team captain for three while making 286 tackles and six sacks in 49 games. He earned All-SEC recognition in 2007 after leading MSU with 89 tackles on the season. His efforts led to him being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Chaney would go on to also play for the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders.