Football
Chip West
- Title:
- Cornerbacks
- Email:
- mawestii@syr.edu
- Phone:
- 4817
Chip West spent three seasons as Syracuse's cornerbacks coach from 2020-22. During his tenure, every starter earned All-ACC honors. He also mentored a pair of Freshmen All-Americans and an NFL Draft selection before departing the program after the 2022 seasons..
An award-winning recruiter with more than 20 years of college coaching experience, West came to Central New York after most recently serving as the cornerbacks coach at Marshall in 2019.
West went right to work when he joined the Orange staff. He was instrumental in developing one of the nation’s top cornerback tandems in freshman Garrett Williams and redshirt junior Ifeatu Melifonwu. The duo ranked first and fifth, respectively in passes defended among Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) performers. Williams earned freshman All-American recognition and was honorable mention All-ACC while Melifonwu picked up second team All-ACC from the Associated Press. Melifonwu was a third-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
His 2021 tandem of Williams and Duce Chestnut ranked second and third in the ACC in passes defended, respectfully, with the rookie Chestnut finishing as runner up for the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year award and garnering Third Team All-ACC honors. Williams was an honorable mention selection for the second-straight season. As a whole, the defense finished in the top-20 nationally of total defense. Surrendering just 330 yards per game, it was the lowest opponent output in a decade that Syracuse had allowed.Â
Despite a season-ending injury to Williams midway through the 2022 campaign, both he and Chestnut were named honorable mention All-ACC honorees, continuing West's streak of all-conference performers. Even with the injuries to the position group, the unit shined in delivering a top-ranked passing defense nationally. The Orange finished 14th nationally in passing defense (184.8) and 21st in total defense (328.6).
In West’s one season at Marshall, the squad posted an 8-5 record and earned a berth in the Gasparilla Bowl. He mentored 2019 All-Conference USA First Team honoree Chris Jackson, who finished his career as Marshall’s all-time leader in pass breakups, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Prior to joining the Thundering Herd, West was the co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Charlotte in 2018 and held the same positions at Howard University in 2017. At Charlotte, West helped run a 49ers unit that ranked second nationally in first downs allowed (197), ninth in rushing defense (105.7 ypg) and 22nd in total defense (337.3 ypg).
From 2010-15, West worked as the cornerbacks coach at Virginia.He guided the careers of multiple Cavaliers who went on to the NFL and made his mark on the recruiting trail. In February 2014, Rivals.com and Scout.com each named West its ACC Recruiter of the Year. Three years prior, West was tabbed the 2011 ACC Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports.com and he was one eight finalists for the organization’s national recruiter of the year award. Named Virginia’s recruiting coordinator after the 2012 season, West spearheaded an effort that landed the Cavaliers numerous highly-rated prospects during his six seasons in Charlottesville, including two of the nation’s top-10 recruits. Virginia signed three top-30 classes with West on staff.
As effective as West was on the recruiting circuit, he was equally as successful as a position coach for the Cavaliers. West mentored two-time All-ACC First Team selection Chase Minnifield, who played in the NFL with the Washington Redskins. He also coached New York Jets cornerback Maurice Canaday and Ras-I Dowling, who was a second-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft  by the New England Patriots. The Virginia secondary also featured Rodney McLeod, who won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.   Â
A Hampton, Virginia native, West was the assistant head coach, defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Old Dominion for three seasons (2007-09) before joining the Virginia staff. In 2009, ODU went 9-2 in its first season as an FCS program.
Before his stop at Old Dominion, West coached at James Madison from 2004-2006. He oversaw the JMU defensive backs, most notably developing free safety Tony LeZotte, a 2005 All-American and the Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. The Dukes won the Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship in 2004 – West’s first season on staff – and finished 13-2. In 2006, JMU returned to the FCS playoffs, losing in the first round at Youngstown State.
In 2003, West served as the defensive backs coach at Fordham when the Rams were 9-3. His first full-time coaching assignment was as wide receiver coach at Colgate for four years (1999-2002). The Raiders shared the 2002 Patriot League title, posting a 9-3 overall record and a 6-1 league mark. Colgate led the Patriot League that season in total offense, averaging 392.5 yards per game, including 215 yards a game passing. In 1999, Colgate won the Patriot League title and reached the Division I-AA playoffs.
West began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at West Virginia from 1997-98. He worked with the defense and was part of the staff that helped the Mountaineers earn invitations to the Carquest and Insight.com bowls.
A standout player at Kecoughtan High School (Va.), West earned All-CIAA honors as a wide receiver at Livingstone College. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Livingstone in 1993 and earned a master’s degree in physical education from West Virginia in 1999.
West and his wife, Patrice, are the parents of five children – Zoe, David, Gwen, Justin and Jada.
THEÂ WEST FILE
Experience:Â 26th season/4th at Syracuse
Hometown:Â Hampton, Va.
Alma Mater:Â Livingstone '93
Family: wife, Patrice; sons David and Justin; daughters Zoe, Gwen and Jada
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Livingstone (1989-92)
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POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
1997 Carquest Bowl
1998 Insight.com Bowl
1999 Division I-AA Playoffs (First Round)
2002 Division I-AA Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
2004 Division I-AA Playoffs (Champions)
2006 FCS Playoffs (First Round)
2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl
2019 Gasparilla Bowl
2022 Pinstripe Bowl
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
James Madison
Tony LeZotte (Montreal Alouettes - CFL)
Virginia
Ras-I Dowling (New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers)
Chase Minnifield (Waashington Redskins)
Marshall
Chris Jackson (Tennessee Titans)
Syracuse
Duce Chestnut (2x All-ACC; Freshman All-American)
Ifeatu Melifonwu (Detroit Lions)
Garrett Williams (3x All-ACC)
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An award-winning recruiter with more than 20 years of college coaching experience, West came to Central New York after most recently serving as the cornerbacks coach at Marshall in 2019.
West went right to work when he joined the Orange staff. He was instrumental in developing one of the nation’s top cornerback tandems in freshman Garrett Williams and redshirt junior Ifeatu Melifonwu. The duo ranked first and fifth, respectively in passes defended among Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) performers. Williams earned freshman All-American recognition and was honorable mention All-ACC while Melifonwu picked up second team All-ACC from the Associated Press. Melifonwu was a third-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
His 2021 tandem of Williams and Duce Chestnut ranked second and third in the ACC in passes defended, respectfully, with the rookie Chestnut finishing as runner up for the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year award and garnering Third Team All-ACC honors. Williams was an honorable mention selection for the second-straight season. As a whole, the defense finished in the top-20 nationally of total defense. Surrendering just 330 yards per game, it was the lowest opponent output in a decade that Syracuse had allowed.Â
Despite a season-ending injury to Williams midway through the 2022 campaign, both he and Chestnut were named honorable mention All-ACC honorees, continuing West's streak of all-conference performers. Even with the injuries to the position group, the unit shined in delivering a top-ranked passing defense nationally. The Orange finished 14th nationally in passing defense (184.8) and 21st in total defense (328.6).
In West’s one season at Marshall, the squad posted an 8-5 record and earned a berth in the Gasparilla Bowl. He mentored 2019 All-Conference USA First Team honoree Chris Jackson, who finished his career as Marshall’s all-time leader in pass breakups, and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Prior to joining the Thundering Herd, West was the co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Charlotte in 2018 and held the same positions at Howard University in 2017. At Charlotte, West helped run a 49ers unit that ranked second nationally in first downs allowed (197), ninth in rushing defense (105.7 ypg) and 22nd in total defense (337.3 ypg).
From 2010-15, West worked as the cornerbacks coach at Virginia.He guided the careers of multiple Cavaliers who went on to the NFL and made his mark on the recruiting trail. In February 2014, Rivals.com and Scout.com each named West its ACC Recruiter of the Year. Three years prior, West was tabbed the 2011 ACC Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports.com and he was one eight finalists for the organization’s national recruiter of the year award. Named Virginia’s recruiting coordinator after the 2012 season, West spearheaded an effort that landed the Cavaliers numerous highly-rated prospects during his six seasons in Charlottesville, including two of the nation’s top-10 recruits. Virginia signed three top-30 classes with West on staff.
As effective as West was on the recruiting circuit, he was equally as successful as a position coach for the Cavaliers. West mentored two-time All-ACC First Team selection Chase Minnifield, who played in the NFL with the Washington Redskins. He also coached New York Jets cornerback Maurice Canaday and Ras-I Dowling, who was a second-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft  by the New England Patriots. The Virginia secondary also featured Rodney McLeod, who won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles.   Â
A Hampton, Virginia native, West was the assistant head coach, defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Old Dominion for three seasons (2007-09) before joining the Virginia staff. In 2009, ODU went 9-2 in its first season as an FCS program.
Before his stop at Old Dominion, West coached at James Madison from 2004-2006. He oversaw the JMU defensive backs, most notably developing free safety Tony LeZotte, a 2005 All-American and the Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. The Dukes won the Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship in 2004 – West’s first season on staff – and finished 13-2. In 2006, JMU returned to the FCS playoffs, losing in the first round at Youngstown State.
In 2003, West served as the defensive backs coach at Fordham when the Rams were 9-3. His first full-time coaching assignment was as wide receiver coach at Colgate for four years (1999-2002). The Raiders shared the 2002 Patriot League title, posting a 9-3 overall record and a 6-1 league mark. Colgate led the Patriot League that season in total offense, averaging 392.5 yards per game, including 215 yards a game passing. In 1999, Colgate won the Patriot League title and reached the Division I-AA playoffs.
West began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at West Virginia from 1997-98. He worked with the defense and was part of the staff that helped the Mountaineers earn invitations to the Carquest and Insight.com bowls.
A standout player at Kecoughtan High School (Va.), West earned All-CIAA honors as a wide receiver at Livingstone College. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Livingstone in 1993 and earned a master’s degree in physical education from West Virginia in 1999.
West and his wife, Patrice, are the parents of five children – Zoe, David, Gwen, Justin and Jada.
THEÂ WEST FILE
Experience:Â 26th season/4th at Syracuse
Hometown:Â Hampton, Va.
Alma Mater:Â Livingstone '93
Family: wife, Patrice; sons David and Justin; daughters Zoe, Gwen and Jada
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Livingstone (1989-92)
Â
| COACHING LEDGER | ||
| Years | School | Position |
| 1997-98 | West Virginia | Graduate Assistant |
| 1999-2002 | Colgate | Wide Receivers |
| 2003 | Fordham | Defensive Backs |
| 2004-06 | James Madison | Defensive Backs |
| 2007-09 | Old Dominion | Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Backs/Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2010-12 | Virginia | Cornerbacks |
| 2013-15 | Virginia | Cornerbacks/Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2017 | Howard | Co-Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks/Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2018 | Charlotte | Co-Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks |
| 2019 | Marshall | Cornerbacks |
| 2020-22 | Syracuse | Cornerbacks |
POSTSEASON COACHING EXPERIENCE
1997 Carquest Bowl
1998 Insight.com Bowl
1999 Division I-AA Playoffs (First Round)
2002 Division I-AA Playoffs (Quarterfinals)
2004 Division I-AA Playoffs (Champions)
2006 FCS Playoffs (First Round)
2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl
2019 Gasparilla Bowl
2022 Pinstripe Bowl
PROMINENT PLAYERS COACHED
James Madison
Tony LeZotte (Montreal Alouettes - CFL)
Virginia
Ras-I Dowling (New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers)
Chase Minnifield (Waashington Redskins)
Marshall
Chris Jackson (Tennessee Titans)
Syracuse
Duce Chestnut (2x All-ACC; Freshman All-American)
Ifeatu Melifonwu (Detroit Lions)
Garrett Williams (3x All-ACC)
Â
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