Chesterfield Returns Varsity Coaching Staff Intact
Nick Dixon will return for year two of his effort to bring continuity to the Rams football landscape.
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Chesterfield – A year ago, Chesterfield High athletic director Kevin Kenny had to make a big hire on his coaching staff, choosing Chesterfield alum Nick Dixon as the head football coach.
This summer has been a lot quieter and less stressful for Kenny as he reports no new varsity coaching hires for the 2026-27 school year.
Kenny says Dixon will return for year two of his effort to bring continuity to the football landscape. Lisa Hardwick will return to lead the girls cross country program, while Jeff Bland will coach the boys cross country team.
Courtney Vanderpool heads up the volleyball program and Lela Oakley will coach girls golf. Louis Rivers is the wrestling coach and Nick Jolly is the girls basketball coach. Ernest Davis is the boys basketball coach.
Steven Sellers directs the baseball program and Graham Harpe is the softball coach. James Wall coaches track while Lee Wallace coaches the boys golf team.
The summer focus at Chesterfield has been on football and Dixon is pleased with the work that his team put in during the offseason. The Rams lost only four seniors from last year’s team so experience is a plus this fall.
“The last year was about cementing the culture and the expectations that we have for the program,” the coach said. “The kids did a great job last year winning seven games but if we want more we’ve got to be consistent in our effort and our attitude. We feel this team has a lot of potential.”
One way Dixon has insured a positive environment is assembling a coaching staff that includes a lot of Chesterfield graduates. Last year, 14 of the 17 coaches were Chesterfield graduates.
“I felt it was important to have guys that played here and have the same love for the program as I do,” Dixon said. “Our kids can relate to these guys and our coaches can relay what it takes to win to those kids. We want to build all of our programs into competitive winners, on and off the field.”
A 2007 graduate and former quarterback in the Rams program, is the third head coach in four years and while others left for greener pastures, Dixon plans to be in it for the long haul.
“This is home for me, whether I’m the head coach or not, this is home,” said Dixon, who has been an assistant in the program since 2018. “I am so thankful to be given this opportunity to lead this program. We are going to give everything we’ve got to make us as competitive as we can be.
“This is where I always hoped I would be,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from a lot of great coaches along the way and I’m excited to put my spin on things.”
