The Eastern Washington football team is in search of a new offensive coordinator. Jim Chapin, who helmed the Eagles’ top-10 offense this season, is leaving to take the same role at Central Michigan, a member of the FBS Mid-American Conference.
This development was first reported by footballscoop.com on Sunday morning and later confirmed by The Spokesman-Review.
Chapin will be joining the Chippewas under new head coach Matt Drinkall, who has previously spent the last six seasons on the Army coaching staff.
A native of Troy, Michigan—a suburb of Detroit located about two hours from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant—Chapin graduated from the University of Michigan in 2009.
For the past three years, Chapin served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Eagles, earning a reputation as a calm and adaptable leader.
“He’s shown significant growth from 2022 to now, and that’s been clear,” said EWU head coach Aaron Best following the Eagles’ season-ending loss at Northern Arizona in November. “He utilizes his personnel better than anyone I’ve seen.”
This season, the Eagles boasted one of the most effective offenses in the FCS, averaging 442 yards per game, the sixth highest in the division. They adopted a run-heavy strategy, particularly after injuries sidelined their No. 2 and No. 3 receivers, Nolan Ulm and Miles Williams. Their rushing average of 229.2 yards per game ranked fifth nationally.
“His attention to detail is remarkable,” said EWU wide receivers coach Jeff McDaniels in September. “Whether it’s a Tuesday offensive meeting in February or preparing for a game, he is incredibly process-oriented.”
Chapin’s exit comes just days after starting quarterback Kekoa Visperas entered the transfer portal, along with several key offensive contributors, including tight ends Jett Carpenter and JP Murphy.
The Eagles also lost five starters from their offensive line and All-America wide receiver Efton Chism III, who set a single-season program record with 120 receptions last year.
Chapin is the latest in a series of former Eastern Washington coordinators who have moved on to positions in the FBS. Pat McCann, Chapin’s predecessor in an interim role, became the wide receivers coach at Fresno State three years ago. Ian Shoemaker, who served as offensive coordinator before McCann, spent two seasons at Hawaii after his three-year tenure at Eastern (2019-2021). Stanford head coach Troy Taylor also held the offensive coordinator position at Eastern in 2016.
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