Athletics

April 2, 2014

Hester Resigns from Catawba, Accepts Coaching Position at N.C. A&T

Chip Hester has resigned his position in Catawba College's Development Office to accept a job at North Carolina A&T as assistant football coach.

He will serve under N.C. A&T head coach Rod Broadway who announced Hester's hiring on April 1.

Hester has been Catawba's director of athletic development since November 2012, after he resigned as Catawba's head football coach at the end of the 2012 season. His job at Catawba included oversight of the Chiefs Club, the athletics' booster club.

Catawba President Brien Lewis wished Hester "tremendous success and fulfillment" in his new role at N.C. A&T and noted how much members of the college community "admire and appreciate Chip and the work he has done on Catawba's behalf."

Hester served as head football coach at Catawba from December 2001 through November 2012. He coached the Indians to a 70-49 record during his tenure. His Catawba squad was South Atlantic Conference champions in 2003 and 2007, and earned NCAA Division II playoff berths in 2002, 2004 and 2007.

The 70 victories under Hester rank second all-time at Catawba, behind legendary coach Gordon Kirkland's 107. Hester's tenure of 11 seasons ties him for second all-time with Harvey Stratton (1962-72), and again, behind Kirkland's 14 seasons.

Hester's teams compiled an overall winning percentage of .588, which follows only David Bennett (1995-2001, .787), Kirkland (1934-48, .762) and Charlie Moran (1930-33, .645).

Hester was named Coach of the Year in the SAC and America Football Coaches Association Region Coach of the Year in 2007.

Hester joined the Catawba staff under Bennett in 1995 and coached wide receivers on a staff that won back-to-back SAC titles in 2000 and 2001. He became passing game coordinator under Bennett and followed as head coach when Bennett left for Coastal Carolina. Simultaneously to joining the football program, Hester also entered the classroom at Catawba, teaching in the Physical Education Department for the past 18 years.

Hester also served as head golf coach at Catawba in 1996-98, prior to the golf position becoming full-time. Under Hester, the Indians' golfers won the 1998 SAC championship and received an NCAA regional berth.

A native of Raleigh, Hester was a standout student athlete at Millbrook High School. He went on to Guilford College, where he was a four-year letterman at wide receiver, before graduating in 1992. Hester earned a master's degree at Georgia Southern University in 1993.