Chet Pobolish enters his third season as the Head Football Coach at SWOSU after being named the 22nd head coach in program history on November 20, 2017.
In his first year leading the Bulldogs, Pobolish guided a team that finished 3-8 with a pair of road victories over conference foes from Arkansas. SWOSU ranked seventh in the Great American Conference by averaging 23.3 points per game and had three players earn All-GAC recognition. Following the season, offensive lineman Brandon Roe was named a First Team Academic All-American while defensive linemen TJ Harris and Dejai Johnson were both selected to play in postseason all-star games and wide receiver Joel Blumenthal was invited to rookie minicamp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Pobolish came to SWOSU with 17 years of collegiate coaching experience, most recently serving as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Missouri Western State University during the 2017 season. He also has NCAA Division II experience with stints at Delta State and Emporia State before he spent four seasons coaching at Southeastern Louisiana University, an FCS school and member of the Southland Conference.
In his lone season at Missouri Western, Pobolish guided an offense that ranked second in the MIAA with 216.7 rushing yards per game while scoring 28.1 points per game. In addition, the Griffons placed five players on the All-MIAA postseason awards list. Prior to Missouri Western, Pobolish coached at the NCAA Division I FCS level for four years at Southeastern Louisiana University.
In his time at SLU, Pobolish was the Special Teams Coordinator and Offensive Coordinator before being promoted to Assistant Head Coach during his last year. As the offensive coordinator, he guided the Lions to the 2014 Southland Conference Championship and one of the best offensive seasons in FCS. The Lions led the NCAA in yards per completion at 17.4 that season and ranked first in the Southland in eight different offensive categories behind All-American quarterback Bryan Bennett, who was also named the Southland Conference Player of the Year.
Before being the offensive coordinator, Pobolish served as the Wide Receivers Coach and Special Teans Coordinator for the Lions. Under his guidance, Southeastern led the Southland in kickoff return yards twice with five returns going for touchdowns. Three players were named All-Southland, led by All-American return man Xavier Robertson. In 2013, Southeastern Louisiana won the Southland Conference and advanced to the NCAA FCS quarterfinals.
Pobolish moved up to the FCS level after spending five seasons on a very successful staff at Delta State, where he coached the wide receivers and served as the Statesmen’s Special Teams coordinator. He helped DSU to four Gulf South Conference titles and four NCAA Playoff appearances, including an appearance in the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship game.
After playing for four seasons at Emporia State, Pobolish began his coaching career at his alma mater from 1999-03. The Hornets won the MIAA and qualified for the NCAA Playoffs in 2003 and Pobolish coached a Harlon Hill finalist and two All-Americans during his five years at ESU. As a student-athlete at Emporia State, Pobolish was a four-time All-MIAA wide receiver and three-time captain for the Hornets. In 1996, he teamed with running back Brian Shay for an NCAA Division II record for most All-Purpose yards by two players.
A native of Moundsville, West Virginia, Pobolish earned a Bachelor’s degree of Integrated Studies from Emporia State in 2000. He and his wife, Holly, have one daughter, Lauran.
Coach Pobolish Year-by-Year
| Season |
W |
L |
% |
W |
L |
% |
Finish |
| 2018 |
3 |
8 |
0.273 |
3 |
8 |
0.273 |
T-9th/GAC |
| 2019 |
3 |
8 |
0.273 |
3 |
8 |
0.273 |
T-8th/GAC |
| 2020 |
No Games Played (COVID-19) |
|
|
|
| Totals |
6 |
16 |
0.273 |
6 |
16 |
0.273 |
|
THE POBOLISH FILE
Coaching Career
2018 – Present: SWOSU (Head Football Coach)
Record: 6-16 (Two Seasons)
2017: Missouri Western (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
2016: Southeastern Louisiana (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams/Wide Receivers)
2013 – 15: Southeastern Louisiana (Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2012 – 13: Southeastern Louisiana (Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2007 – 11: Delta State (Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2004 – 06: Emporia State (Quarterbacks/Video Coordinator)
1999 – 03: Emporia State (Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
Playing Career
1995 – 98: Emporia State
Four-time All-MIAA selection (WR)
Three-year captain
Education
Emporia State University
Bachelors of Integrated Studies, 2000
