E-Mail Coach Chestnutt

Thomas Chestnutt was hired as Florida International University's second women's soccer head coach on February 10, 2007.  Chestnutt comes to FIU from Fresno State, where he served as the first assistant coach since 2004. Fresno State saw drastic improvements in its women’s soccer program during Chestnutt’s tenure, including trips to the NCAA Tournament, bolstered recruiting and academic success and conference titles.

In 2005, the Bulldogs won their first-ever Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament Championship, earned an NCAA Tournament berth for only the second time in school history and finished with their best record since 2000. This past season Fresno St. was crowned WAC regular season champions for the second time in program history, won road games against top-20 opponents Florida and BYU, and finished the season 13-5-3 without allowing a goal in conference play (16 games). 

In addition to guiding the team on the field, Chestnutt played a major role in the Bulldogs’ recruiting and was responsible for overseeing the team’s academic success. The Bulldogs flourished in both areas, putting 13 student-athletes on the 2005 WAC Academic All-Conference Team and garnering their first-ever regionally-ranked recruiting class in 2005.

Prior to his arrival at Fresno State, Chestnutt worked with the University of Florida women’s soccer team from 2001-04, while working toward his Ph.D. in environmental engineering. The Gators went to the 2001 Final Four and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals as the No. 3 seed in 2003.

Despite the rigors of working toward his Ph.D. and working on the UF women’s staff, Chestnutt was also the head coach of the Florida men’s club team from 2000-03. Chestnutt guided the UF club team to five major tournament victories in that span, a feat that had only been accomplished once in the previous 15 years. His teams finished 2-0-2 against varsity programs over that time, including a tie against 2001 NCAA Division II National Champion Tampa, and were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the NIRSA Southeast in 2001 and 2002.

The former center midfielder also possesses a wealth of club coaching and camp experience. Chestnutt has served on the Bullard F.C. Board of Directors and coached the Bullard F.C. U17-U18 girls team in Fresno since 2005. He coached the U15 and U14 Boys Gainesville Select Soccer Club Team from 2001-03, the Tampa Bay Heather U13 team in 1998 and was a trainer for the Gainesville Select/Leg A-Z Youth Clubs from 2001-04. Chestnutt has also played a part in setting up and coaching camps at Fresno State, Florida, Santa Clara and Clemson.

Chestnutt played collegiately at the University of Dayton for three years, earning his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry with minors in German, biology and chemistry in 1995. He continued his playing career with the Tampa Bay Cyclones in 1995 and 1996 before spending 1997 with FSC Lohfelden in the German Fourth Division.

Chestnutt returned to school in 1998 and earned his master’s degree in engineering mechanics in 2001 from Florida. Chestnutt is scheduled to earn his Ph.D. in May. He holds a USSF National “A” License, a NSCAA Goalkeeping II Diploma, and has been on the CYSA North Olympic Development Program Staff since 2005. In addition, Chestnutt was on the Florida Youth Soccer Association State Staff in 2003-04