On Feb. 10, 2007, Thomas Chestnutt became the second head coach in FIU women’s soccer history, after spending three years at Fresno State University. With Chestnutt at the helm of the Panthers’ program, FIU has won at least 11 matches in four of the last six seasons, while the team has also been credited with over 30 awards and honors from Conference USA, the Sun Belt Conference and NSCAA. A two-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year, Chestnutt has restored FIU to prominence once again.
Chestnutt built off his team’s first-year in Conference USA in 2014 with a recruiting class that brought in one of the league brightest rookies, Nevena Stojakovic. With Chestnutt’s guidance, he helped his freshman goal keeper to six shutouts over the course of the season, including three-straight blankings. With an eye for defensive talent, Chesnutt brought his defense to impressive heights, as both Stojakovic and Marie Egan won conference accolades for their play during the 2014 season. He also helped mold all-time offensive great Chelsea Leiva to her third season of leading the Panthers in goals, as the FIU product finished her career fourth all-time on FIU’s scoring chart. Additionally, Chestnutt helped shape the career of Ashleigh Shim, who also broke the Panthers’ top 10 scoring chart during her senior campaign in 2014. Both Leiva and Shim recieved conference awards, which tallied four players who earned an all-conference nod.
Chesnutt also guided his program to records off the field, as his team won the Dr. Paul D. Gallagher Community Service award for the third-straight season in 2014-15, while it’s also the fifth time since Chestnutt overtook the program that FIU has won the award.
In the squad’s inaugural season at a member of Conference USA in 2013, Chestnutt guided the Panthers to their sixth-straight tournament appearance during his tenure. Through his guidance, the five seniors who graduated following the 2013 season finished with the third most wins of any four-year class in program history (42 wins).
The Panthers were back in the Sun Belt Tournament again in 2012, as Chestnutt’s team was once again playing for the title. For the fourth-straight season, the Chestnutt-led group finished with at least 11 victories (13-6-2) and was the second-straight year the squad finished with 13 wins. Two players earned All-Region honors, including Chelsea Leiva and Kaitlyn Savage, who would sign a professional contract in December. Savage was third in the conference in shutouts (.089 goals-against-average), while Leiva finished second in the Sun Belt in game winning goals (5) and led the team with 29 points.
FIU returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2011 after Chestnut coached the Panthers to a 13-7-3 record (8-1-2 Sun Belt) and the second conference tournament title in program history. The FIU defense stifled offenses all season long, ranking among the top three in the conference for shutouts (6), goals allowed per game (0.55), save percentage (.895) and scoring margin (+1.09). Five players earned All-Sun Belt honors, including April Perry who was also named to the NSCAA All-South Team. Chestnutt’s squad also included the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year (Ashleigh Shim) for the third straight season.
In 2010, the Panthers claimed their second-consecutive 11-win season for the first time in a decade, which included their best start to the conference season (5-0) in 24 years. FIU secured the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament and posted its first conference tournament win since 2004.
In 2009, Chestnutt was named the SBC Coach of the Year for the second-straight season after leading FIU to its first conference regular season championship since 2000 and just the second in school history. Moreover, FIU became the first program since the inception of the Sun Belt to jump from sixth place to first in consecutive seasons with a 6.5-game improvement from the year prior. In effect, the team’s success ranked as the sixth best turnaround season in the nation that year. The Panthers ranked among the top 10 teams in the NSCAA South Region poll by year’s end. The progress was not surprising considering the team’s success a year prior. In 2008 the Panthers tied the 2004 squad for their most wins in the conference since 2001.
In his first year as the FIU head coach, Chestnutt’s team showed tremendous potential. His 2008 recruiting class was ranked among the best in the Sun Belt Conference. His athletes also succeeded in the classroom, as 14 of his 18 players posted GPA’s better than 3.0, including two 4.0’s.
Chestnutt came to FIU from Fresno State University, where he served three years as the school’s first assistant coach. 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 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. One year later, Fresno State earned the WAC regular season championship for the second time in program history, won road games against top-20 opponents Florida and BYU, and finished the season with a record of 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 efforts and was responsible for overseeing the team’s academic success. The Bulldogs flourished in both areas, as they placed 13 student-athletes on the 2005 WAC Academic All-Conference Team and garnered 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 a 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. Chestnutt was also the head coach of Florida’s 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, respectively.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 girl’s team in Fresno, Calif., since 2005. He coached the U14 and U15 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 also played a part in setting up and coaching camps at Fresno State, Florida, Santa Clara University and Clemson University.
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. He holds a USSF National “A” License, a NSCAA Goalkeeping II Diploma and was a part of the California North Olympic Development Program in 2005-06. He is currently a member of the Florida State ODP staff. In addition, Chestnutt was on the Florida Youth Soccer Association state staff in 2003-04.
