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James Madison football coaching timeline: How Bob Chesney built on Curt Cignetti's success

James Madison’s football program has become a standout success story in college football, particularly since its transition from the FCS to FBS just four years ago. Under the leadership of Bob Chesney, the Dukes have compiled a 45-11 record, including two consecutive bowl appearances and a historic first-ever College Football Playoff berth in 2025.

Chesney’s arrival built on the strong foundation laid by Curt Cignetti, who led the team from 2019 to 2023 and delivered three straight FCS playoff runs, culminating in a national title game appearance in 2019. Before Cignetti, Mike Houston guided JMU to back-to-back national championships in the FCS, winning titles in 2016 and 2017, while Everett Withers also left a mark with two FCS playoff appearances during his two seasons as head coach from 2014 to 2015.

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