That didn't take long.
Just a few days after losing defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill to Texas A&M and Zach Sparber to Rutgers, Bob Chesney is refilling his defensive hierarchy.
Multiple sources tell FootballScoop that James Madison is tabbing Colin Hitschler as its next defensive coordinator. The two sides have spoken throughout this week, sources familiar with the process told FootballScoop.
Hitschler spent the 2024 season on Kalen DeBoer's Alabama staff before the two parted after the Tide's season, which ended in missing the College Football Playoff and a bowl loss to Michigan.
For the past three seasons, Histchler has been the co-defensive coordinator at Power Conference programs.
In 2022, he was co-coordinator for Luke Fickell at Cincinnati and a year later followed Fickell to Wisconsin before he was hired away by DeBoer to the SEC.
A Penn graduate, Histchler most notably also had earlier stops at Arkansas State, South Alabama and climbed the ranks at Cincinnati from quality control coach into the co-coordinator role.