Earl Chambers

Head Coach Felton Huggins Jr. officially named Earl Chambers as Defensive Coordinator in August 2023, Chambers brings a wealth of experience with over 23 years of coaching experience to Kentucky State

He comes to Kentucky State from LaGrange College where he spent nine years and has served has the Head Football Coach since 2018. As head coach he improved the team GPA from 2.3 to a 3.0 and implemented programs to mentor student-athletes in life skills and academics.

Prior to LaGrange he served as the running backs coach Division I FCS member James Madison.

Chambers is a Georgia native, playing four sports at Banneker High School in College Park, while earning Honorable Mention All-State in football by both the Associated Press and by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a senior quarterback. From there, he went on to play at the University of Georgia.

At Georgia, Chambers was a strong safety on defense. As a senior, he had 41 tackles and four pass breakups as the Bulldogs won the Outback Bowl. During the four years Chambers played, the Bulldogs went 33-11 and 3-1 in bowl game.

In addition to his playing duties, Chambers served on the SEC Council, UGA Athletic Board and the Faculty Committee during the 1996-97 school year. He also served two years on Georgia’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee during his undergraduate years. Chambers graduated from UGA with a degree in psychology in 1999.

He would stay five more years with the Bulldogs, working as a graduate assistant. Chambers spent his first year on the Bulldog staff as a recruiting assistant, helping to evaluate position recruits as well as coordinating official visits. His final four seasons, Chambers served as an assistant with the UGA defensive staff and as video coordinator. His defensive duties involved Chambers with the defensive line and allowed him to coach the team’s offensive and special teams scout players. He also worked as an academic mentor, assisting the Bulldogs as they worked towards their college degrees.

Georgia was 50-14 during Chambers’ five seasons on the coaching staff and made bowl appearances all five years. The Bulldogs won the Southeastern Conference in 2002 and were the Sugar Bowl Champions that year while winning the SEC East title in 2003. UGA won the O’ahu Bowl his first season, the Capital One Bowl in 2003 and the Outback Bowl in his final year while appearing in the Music City Bowl in 2001. He coached three NFL first round draft picks in his five seasons with the school, including Jonathan Sullivan, Charles Grant and David Pollack.

After Georgia, he worked eight seasons as the defensive line coach for NCAA Division II Valdosta State, helping lead the squad to a 12-2 record and the 2012 NCAA Division II National Championship, the second in his tenure with the Blazers. After previously serving as the Blazers’ Recruiting Coordinator and Director of Football Operations, Chambers’ ability in coaching on defense was rewarded prior to the 2012 season as he was named Co-Defensive Coordinator. The Blazers posted a 71-22 record with five playoff appearances, including the two national championships while Chambers was on the staff.

During his time with the Blazers, Chambers coached 10 All-Gulf South selections as well as three All-American honorees. In 2006, the Blazer defense set a school record for fewest points and total yards allowed. In 2007, Chambers’ defensive line unit played a key role in the Blazers winning the Division II National Championship. The defensive line accounted for 23.5 of VSU’s 38 sacks on the year while totaling 53 tackles for loss. The group featured eight freshmen and two sophomores out of the 16 who played on the defensive line during the season.

A member of the American Football Coaches Association, Chambers is married to the former Tonya Bell of Cuba, Ala. and is the father of four children, Eariona, Jordan, Evelyn, and Emily.