Baseball
Jim Chester
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- jchester1@gardner-webb.edu
- Phone:
- (704) 406-4421
Jim Chester recently concluded his seventh season as the head coach of the Gardner-Webb University after taking over the program in June 2019.
On April 28, 2026 Chester picked up his 500th collegiate victory with a 6-0 victory over Wofford College. In a Runnin' Bulldog uniform Chester has amassed 153 victories, 4 post-season appearances, and signature victories over Duke, Michigan State, Northwestern, and nationally ranked Oklahoma State.
Chester recruited Mason Miller, arguably the most accomplished athlete in Gardner-Webb history. In 2021, Miller was a 3rd Round Draft pick of the Oakland Athletics. He made his Major League Baseball debut on April 19, 2023, appeared in the 2024 All-Star game, and represented Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Prior to his arrival to Gardner-Webb, Chester spent two seasons as the head coach at Barton College. Engineering the biggest turnaround in all of NCAA Division II in 2019, Chester led the Barton Bulldogs to a 31-20 overall record, earning a second-place finish in the Conference Carolinas standings and also taking home 2019 Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to his time at Barton, Chester spent three seasons as the head coach at Division II Lock Haven (Pa.) University, taking a program that was 13-28 overall prior to his arrival to a 32-18 overall record in 2017, a year in which the Bald Eagles had a tenth-round selection in the MLB Draft and five All-Conference selections.
Chester was the head coach at Penn State University-Greater Allegheny for seven seasons from 2008-2014, where he was 239-84-1 (.739) overall, leading his squad to six United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) World Series appearances.
He left PSUGA as the winningest coach in school history, earning Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Coach of the Year honors on three occasions, as well as the 2011 Chuck Tanner Collegiate Manager of the Year Award. He also produced 37 All-Conference players and 24 All-American selections. He also served as PSUGA’s Athletic Director.
His first head coaching job came in 2006 at Mercyhurst North East College, spending one season there as the coach, compliance coordinator.
Chester graduated from Thiel College in 2003, where he was a four-year letterman for the baseball program, earning NCAA Region All-American honors in 2003. He earned a bachelor of arts in psychology in 2003 and and in followed with a Master of Business Administration from Seton Hill University in 2005.
Chester and his wife Lindzey, have two children, Marin and JJ.
On April 28, 2026 Chester picked up his 500th collegiate victory with a 6-0 victory over Wofford College. In a Runnin' Bulldog uniform Chester has amassed 153 victories, 4 post-season appearances, and signature victories over Duke, Michigan State, Northwestern, and nationally ranked Oklahoma State.
Chester recruited Mason Miller, arguably the most accomplished athlete in Gardner-Webb history. In 2021, Miller was a 3rd Round Draft pick of the Oakland Athletics. He made his Major League Baseball debut on April 19, 2023, appeared in the 2024 All-Star game, and represented Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Prior to his arrival to Gardner-Webb, Chester spent two seasons as the head coach at Barton College. Engineering the biggest turnaround in all of NCAA Division II in 2019, Chester led the Barton Bulldogs to a 31-20 overall record, earning a second-place finish in the Conference Carolinas standings and also taking home 2019 Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to his time at Barton, Chester spent three seasons as the head coach at Division II Lock Haven (Pa.) University, taking a program that was 13-28 overall prior to his arrival to a 32-18 overall record in 2017, a year in which the Bald Eagles had a tenth-round selection in the MLB Draft and five All-Conference selections.
Chester was the head coach at Penn State University-Greater Allegheny for seven seasons from 2008-2014, where he was 239-84-1 (.739) overall, leading his squad to six United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) World Series appearances.
He left PSUGA as the winningest coach in school history, earning Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Coach of the Year honors on three occasions, as well as the 2011 Chuck Tanner Collegiate Manager of the Year Award. He also produced 37 All-Conference players and 24 All-American selections. He also served as PSUGA’s Athletic Director.
His first head coaching job came in 2006 at Mercyhurst North East College, spending one season there as the coach, compliance coordinator.
Chester graduated from Thiel College in 2003, where he was a four-year letterman for the baseball program, earning NCAA Region All-American honors in 2003. He earned a bachelor of arts in psychology in 2003 and and in followed with a Master of Business Administration from Seton Hill University in 2005.
Chester and his wife Lindzey, have two children, Marin and JJ.
No videos available.
