OFFICIAL RELEASE: Baylor Tabs Jamar Chaney as New Linebackers Coach

WACO, Texas -- Former All-Southeastern Conference linebacker Jamar Chaney has been tabbed to coach Baylor’s inside linebackers, it was announced by Coach Dave Aranda on Wednesday.

Chaney comes to Waco after serving as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky in 2023, working with the outside linebackers. He previously spent the 2022 season as an analyst and recruiting coordinator at Florida, working with the linebackers, which followed two seasons at his alma mater, Mississippi State, as a senior defensive analyst. He was the assistant director of player personnel, focusing on high school relations at Florida in 2019.

“Jamar is going to be a great fit for our defensive staff,” Aranda said. “He will bring an energy and passion to our linebacker room that will be a great asset. Jamar was a great player and has tremendous perspective to draw upon in his mentorship of our linebackers, while also developing a real skill as a recruiter. He has quickly become a rising star in the business and we are excited about what his addition to our linebacker room with provide. We’re looking forward to getting Jamar to Waco as we start preparing for the spring practice season.”

In his season in Bowling Green, Ky., Chaney helped lead WKU to an 8-5 record and a 5-3 mark in Conference USA. The Toppers won three consecutive games to end the year, including a 38-35 overtime win over Old Dominion in the Toastery Bowl. Chaney coached all-conference linebacker Jaques Evans and Kylan Guidry, who led the Hilltoppers in tackles, and Freshman All-Conference USA selection Koron Hayward.

“I am humbled by Coach Aranda’s confidence in my ability to mentor our linebackers on and off the field,” Chaney said. “This is a great time to join the Baylor football program and I’m excited to join the an elite coaching staff. During my interview process, there was a great sense of confidence within the facility about where the team is going. My wife, Shamira, and our four children are really looking forward to our transition to Waco.”

Chaney comes to Baylor having played and coached under some veteran coaching minds, including Tyson Helton (WKU), Billy Napier (Florida), Mike Leach (Mississippi State), Dan Mullen (Mississippi State) and Sylvester Croom (Mississippi State), Andy Reid (Philadelphia Eagles), Sean McDermott (Eagles), Todd Bowles (Eagles).

In 2022, Chaney was an analyst at Florida, working as the recruiting coordinator and with the linebackers. The Gators routed No. 7 Utah and appeared in the Las Vegas Bowl in Napier’s first season in Gainesville. He helped coach Ventrell Miller, an eventual fourth-round pick in the NFL Draft, and sixth-round selection Amari Barney, in addition to Freshman All-SEC linebacker Shemar James.

It marked his second stint on the UF staff, which included an 11-2 season and an Orange Bowl win over Virginia in 2019, a season that saw him serve as the assistant director of player personnel.

He was a senior analyst at Mississippi State in 2020 and 2021 under Leach. The Bulldogs earned a spot in the 2021 Liberty Bowl, MSU’s 12th straight season reaching a bowl game. The 2021 season included a win over No. 15 Texas A&M in College Station and a 31-17 win over No. 12 Kentucky in Starkville. He assisted in the development of MSU All-SEC linebackers Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson in 2021. In 2020, the Dawgs reached the Armed Forces Bowl, capping the season with a win over No. 22 Tulsa.

Chaney had a decorated playing career in Starkville, Miss., starring at weakside and middle linebacker in the Magnolia State. He earned All-SEC honors after going for 89 tackles in 2007, leading MSU to eight wins. He played in 49 total games from 2005-09 with 286 career tackles and in 2009, Rivals ranked Chaney as the most underrated player in the SEC.

He went on to earn South Team Defensive Player of the Game honors in the 2010 Senior Bowl, leading to a selection by the Eagles in the NFL Draft. Chaney saw time in the NFL with the Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders.

Chaney is a native of Fort Pierce, Fla., and he and his wife, Shamira, have four children, Rhaelyn, Eli, Leo and Teo.

Chaney File

2024: Assistant Coach/Inside Linebackers – Baylor

2023: Assistant Coach/Outside Linebackers – Western Kentucky

2022: Analyst/Recruiting/Linebackers – Florida

2020-21: Senior Defensive Analyst/Linebackers – Mississippi State

2019: Assistant Director of Player Personnel/High School Relations – Florida

2016-18: Head Coach – St. Lucie West Centennial [Fla.] High School