After James Madison’s defensive coordinator, Lyle Hemphill, departed for an assistant job at Texas A&M, there was a gaping hole in the Dukes’ coaching staff. Luckily, that hole was filled on February 6, when JMU hired Colin Hitschler as their new defensive coordinator for the football team.
The Coaching Journey of Colin Hitschler to JMU
Hitschler is more than qualified for this position. In 2018, he was hired by Cincinnati as a defensive quality control coach. However, by 2022, Hitschler worked his way up to being Cincinnati’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
In 2021, the Bearcats went undefeated during the regular season. The team found their way to the College Football Playoffs, where they eventually lost to Alabama in the Cotton Bowl. In that same season, Cincinnati allowed just 168.3 passing yards per game, which was the second-fewest of any team in the nation. Hitschler worked with an incredible group of safeties at Cincinnati, including Bryan Cook, who was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the No. 62 pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
After spending the 2023 season with the Wisconsin Badgers, Hitschler joined the Alabama Crimson Tide on January 18, 2024 as a co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. This was Alabama’s first season without Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide finished the year with a 9-4 record, missing the College Football Playoffs. Kalen DaBoer, Alabama’s current head coach, knew he had to make some changes, which is why Hitschler was fired on January 3, 2025.
After all, Alabama’s coaching staff was extremely crowded. Last season, they had a defensive coordinator and two co-defensive coordinators, one of which was Hitschler. Despite the firing, at just 38 years old, Hitschler has already been a co-defensive coordinator at three Power Conference programs. He’s also worked with many prestigious coaches, including Luke Fickell and Marcus Freeman.
No Shortage of Talent
The Dukes’ current defense is stacked to the brim with talent. Some top returning players include Immanuel Bush, Amar Thomas, Gannon Weathersby, Trent Hendrick, Chauncey Logan, and DJ Barksdale. That said, safety Jacob Thomas will by far be the most impactful player on JMU’s defense in 2025.
Last season, Thomas amassed a total of 73 tackles, which was a team-best. He also had three passes defended to go along with three interceptions. Hitschler is extremely familiar with the safety position, so you can expect Thomas to have a breakout season as a senior.
The Dukes have lost multiple stars on defense through the draft and graduation. However, JMU made a splash in the transfer portal, bringing in names such as Xavier Holmes, Curtis Harris-Lopez, and Chantz Harley, who will likely be starters this upcoming season.
Hitschler also thrives on the recruiting side of things. 247 Sports named Hitschler the 18th-best recruiter in the 2024 class. It’s also important to note that Bob Chesney and Colin Hitschler have previously worked together prior to JMU. In 2011, Hitschler was the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach for Chesney at Salve Regina.
What’s Next for the Dukes?
In 2023, JMU had one of the best defenses in the entire country. They allowed just 83.9 rushing yards per game, which was the fifth-fewest in college football. They also allowed just 19.5 points per game, which ranked 20th-best in the nation. On top of that, JMU had 45 total sacks and 13 interceptions.
JMU’s defense wasn’t bad in 2024. However, they failed to replicate the same success without Curt Cignetti just one year prior. On the other side of the spectrum, Indiana, with Cignetti, became one of the best defenses in the NCAA. This past season, the Hoosiers allowed the 10th-fewest passing yards per game, the fewest rushing yards per game, and the sixth fewest points per game.
Hitschler did get fired by Alabama, but don’t get it twisted; he is still an amazing coach with lots of experience, and will bring loads of success to this up-and-coming program. However, that doesn’t come without high expectations. When you look at the current state of the JMU Dukes, anything less than a bowl game appearance in 2025 would be a disappointment. Luckily, with an extremely talented roster and an amazing coaching staff, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Matthew Heiserman
Matthew Heiserman is an up-and-coming sports reporter and journalist. As a 13 year old, Matthew has his own podcast, where he's interviewed people such as ESPN's Adam Schefter, CBS' Evan Washburn, and The Athletic's Stewart Mandel. Matthew covers JMU Football for The League Winners, as well as writing for his own personal website, https://matthewheiserman.substack.com.