Jake Chestnut returned to Notre Dame College in January 2020 and was named Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach.
Chestnut was previously a graduate assistant coach with NDC in 2017.
Notre Dame's defense ranked fourth in the MEC by allowing 24.2 points per game in 2023. The Falcons held teams to 30.6-percent third down conversion percentage, second best in the conference, and 20th in NCAA Division II. They also were tied fourth in the conference with 14 interceptions and ranked fifth in forced fumbles, with eight. Defensive lineman Lavell Gibson was named Academic All-District for the first time. The All-MEC teams included Gibson, linebacker Isaiah Stephens and safety Antoine Holloway II on the First Team, with defensive lineman Lane Martinez-Beasley, linebacker Emarion Perkins and linebacker Nathan Rosario-Santos named Honorable Mention.
In 2022, the NDC defense continued to impress. The team led the country in opponent passing efficiency (86.73) and defensive touchdowns (6). They were also in the top 20 in NCAA D2 in interceptions (20), third-down conversion defense (27.1-percent), points allowed (15.5), passing yards allowed per game (157.2), takeaways (28), tackles for loss per game (8.2) and turnover margin (plus-0.67). In the Mountain East Conference, the Falcons allowed the fewest amount of touchdowns allowed (21), rushing touchdowns (11), passing touchdowns (10), points per game (15.5), opponent yards per play (4.2), opponent yards per game (288.3), passing yards (1,886) and passing yards per game (157.2). They also led the conference in interceptions (20), sacks (33), opponent first downs (194) and opponent third down conversion (27.1).
The Falcons' defense allowed 18.3 points per contest in the fall of 2021. NDC also allowed just 207.9 passing yards per game, marking the first time that the Falcons have held opponents under 240 passing yards in back-to-back seasons since the 2012-2013 campaigns. In the NCAA Division II rankings, NDC ranked first in takeaways (36) and interceptions (21). They were also second in defensive touchdowns (6), third in turnover margin (+1.54), fifth in fumbles recovered (15), 13th in rushing defense (91.2 yards per game) and 16th in red zone defense (67.5%). The defense held five opponents to under 50 rushing yards, including a negative-22 rushing yards allowed to West Virginia Wesleyan on Oct. 16.
In his first season as defensive coordinator, the Falcons allowed just 15.4 points per game in a season shortened to five games, due to COVID. The defense was best in NCAA Division II with four defensive touchdowns and seven fumble recoveries. They ranked in the top 25 with 15 turnovers gained (2nd), eight passes intercepted (4th), allowing 245.4 yards per game (6th), allowing a 26.7-percent completion percentage on third downs (7th), allowing 84.4 rushing yards per game (8th), allowing a 25-percent completion percentage on fourth downs (11th) and allowing 161 passing yards per game (14th).
In the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Chestnut served as the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach at Montana State-Northern.
Chestnut played for the Falcons from 2013-16. As one of the top defensive players in his time as a student-athlete at NDC, he recorded 222 career tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. He was an All-MEC honoree in 2016.
Chestnut graduated from Notre Dame with a Bachelor's degree as a mild/moderate intervention specialist.
