Greg Chimera, who has served as Johns Hopkins University's head football coach since February 2019 and guided the Blue Jays to an appearance in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals this past season, will depart Hopkins to become the offensive coordinator on the football coaching staff at the University of Pennsylvania, the university announced today.
In four seasons over five years—the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID pandemic—Chimera led the Blue Jays to a 40-7 record, two Centennial Conference titles, and two berths in the NCAA DIII playoffs. His 40 victories rank third in Johns Hopkins history, while his .851 winning percentage is by far the highest in program history.
Prior to being named head coach, Chimera spent 10 seasons as a member of the Blue Jays coaching staff alongside the late Jim Margraff, including five as the team's offensive coordinator, from 2014–18. He originally joined Margraff's staff not long after completing a four-year playing career at Johns Hopkins in 2008.
A national search for Chimera's replacement will begin immediately.
"For nearly two decades, Greg Chimera has dedicated himself to the Johns Hopkins football program as a student-athlete, assistant coach and, most recently, as our head coach," said Jennifer S. Baker, JHU's associate vice provost for student affairs and director of athletics and recreation. "He has been an incredible ambassador for the university, a trusted mentor to hundreds of young men, and a highly-respected leader on our staff. While we will miss the energy, focus, and passion with which Greg led our football program, we are thrilled for him and his family as they embark on this exciting chapter in his career. Penn is not only getting an outstanding coach, but they are welcoming someone who will be an exceptional representative of Quaker football."
Under Chimera's guidance, Johns Hopkins has had a national-best 18 Academic All-Americans since 2020, including an all-divisions, all-sport record eight in 2021 and six in 2022. In short, no college football coach at any level coached more Academic All-Americans from 2020–22 than Chimera; the 2023 Academic All-America team will be announced on Jan. 23.
In addition, eight Johns Hopkins players combined to earn 17 All-America nods, two players were national finalists for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, and two were named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team since Chimera's appointment in 2019.
"I would like to thank the entire Johns Hopkins community, especially Director of Athletics Jen Baker, for the support and guidance along my coaching journey at Homewood," Chimera said. "To my assistant coaches, former teammates, trainers, strength staff, and most importantly the scholar-athletes, the relationships we have built are the reason that I coach. I consider myself fortunate for the lifelong friendships I have made since arriving at Johns Hopkins in 2005."
Hopkins has enjoyed the greatest run in program history since Chimera joined the staff in 2009. In the 14 seasons since then, Johns Hopkins has posted a 142-24 record, won 12 Centennial Conference titles, advanced to the NCAA DIII playoffs 11 times, and lost a total of just 13 regular season games.
"Johns Hopkins has been a huge part of my life for the past 18 years and that won't change moving forward," Chimera said. "The next phase will be as a proud alum and the team's biggest fan. I have no doubt the 2024 season and beyond will be special, and the men who represent the program will only continue to raise the standard for what it means to be a Hopkins football player."
