Northeastern State University Athletics

Under the leadership of first-year Head Coach Darrin Chiaverini, the Northeastern State University Football program made significant strides during the 2024 season, achieving remarkable improvements on both offense and defense. Offensively, the team demonstrated enhanced efficiency and productivity across all metrics. Third-down conversion rates rose from 29.71% in 2023 to 38.96% in 2024, while fourth-down conversions surged from 30% to an impressive 52%. The rushing attack flourished, gaining 558 additional yards, improving by 0.7 yards per attempt, adding 40.8 more rushing yards per game, and scoring 11 more touchdowns than the previous season. The passing game also excelled, averaging 97.36 more yards per game, increasing yards per attempt by 2.35, and amassing 1,071 additional passing yards and 13 more touchdowns. Overall, the offense gained 138.2 more yards per game, increased yards per play by 1.4, and raised its touchdown total from 15 to 41. Red zone efficiency was another standout, with 35 appearances resulting in 27 touchdowns and points scored on 30 occasions. The season also featured the program’s most 50-point games since 1998, showcasing the explosive potential of the offensive unit.

Defensively, the RiverHawks displayed significant progress, allowing 6.36 fewer points per game and 70 fewer points overall. The pass defense was particularly impressive, yielding 741 fewer passing yards and 24 fewer passing first downs, while the rushing defense increased tackles for loss and forced opponents to lose an additional 85 yards on the ground. Situational performance improved as well, with the defense cutting opponents’ third-down conversion rates by 7.9% and fourth-down rates by 12.5%. The season included the program’s first shutout since 2011 and the largest homecoming attendance since 2011. These accomplishments reflect Coach Chiaverini’s transformative leadership, strategic adjustments, and ability to inspire growth, laying a strong foundation for sustained success at Northeastern State University.
 
The former NFL and University of Colorado wide receiver brings a wealth of experience to Tahlequah, having coached at the NCAA Division 1 and junior college levels for 16 years. Chiaverini comes to NSU from Chaffey College, where he took over a program that was a combined 2-18 during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In his first season with the Panthers, he completely revitalized the program, coaching the team to an 11-0 record and ending the season as the American Metro Conference Champions and 2023 American Division Bowl Champions.
 
Chiaverini’s other accolades from the 2023 campaign include QB Dereun Dortch being named American Metro Conference MVP and Chiaverini being awarded the title of American Metro Conference Coach of the Year. The Panthers also set four school records during the 2023 campaign, including 46.0 ppg (ranked #1 in conference, T-#1 in CA), 513.0 ypg (ranked #1 in conference, #2 in CA), 58% - 3rd Down Conversions (ranked #1 in conference, #1 in CA), and 89% - Red Zone Scoring (ranked #1 in conference, #1 in CA).
 
Chiaverini spent the 2022 season as senior analyst for UCLA. Under his leadership, UCLA’s offense was ranked fourth in the country with 507.8 ypg, and ranked ninth in the country averaging 39.6 ppg. UCLA finished the season ranked 17th in the final AP Poll, and earned a berth in the Sun Bowl in El Paso Texas.
 
Prior to his time at UCLA, Chiaverini was on the staff of his alma mater, the University of Colorado, filling several positions during his tenure from 2016-2021. In those six years, he was wide receivers coach (all six years), offensive coordinator (five seasons), assistant head coach (one year) and briefly interim head coach, while also serving in the dual role of recruiting coordinator. He has been nationally recognized for his recruiting efforts; Rivals.com named him one of the top 25 recruiters in the country for the three recruiting classes pre-COVID (2018, 2019 and 2020).
 
Under Chiaverini's mentorship during his time at Colorado, he coached five receivers that finished among the university’s all-time top 20 in yards (passing Chiaverini on the list, dropping him down to 21st). He also worked with the top two quarterbacks in passing yards in CU history, Sefo Liufau and Steven Montez.
 
Chiaverini was the special teams coordinator and outside receivers coach during the 2014-15 seasons for Texas Tech. During his tenure with the Red Raiders, he recruited from the Dallas, Houston, and the Southern California regions. One of his players, Jakeem Grant, earned second-team All-America honors at kick returner for the 2015 season.
 
Prior to his time at Texas Tech, he spent four years at Riverside (Calif.) City College from 2010-2013, where he was the associate head coach and co-offensive and special teams coordinator, in addition to being in charge of recruiting. Riverside was 40-5 during his four years and produced 15 NCAA Division I players.
 
His special teams units at Riverside were some of the best of the junior college ranks, with an impressive 22 blocked kicks in four seasons. Chiaverini coached the top punt returner in the state of California in 2011 and 2012, while Riverside's offense led California in scoring in 2011 and in total offense in 2013.
 
Before Riverside, he rejoined his college coach, Rick Neuheisel, as the assistant special teams coach at UCLA for the 2009 season. He helped pilot one of the top units in the Pac-10 conference and the Bruins captured the Eagle Bank Bowl trophy with a 30-21 win over Temple.
 
Chiaverini got his start in coaching at Mt. San Antonio College in 2007, starting as a receivers coach and then promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2008.
 
Prior to his coaching career, Chiaverini was one of Neuheisel’s first commitments in Colorado’s 1995 recruiting class. He earned four letters from 1995-98 and served as one of the team captains his senior season. He caught 97 passes for 1,199 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 12.4 yards per reception in his career, exiting at the time as CU’s seventh all-time receiver. He remains in the top 15 in both catches and yards. He led the team as a senior with 52 catches for 630 yards and five scores.
 
He was a member of three CU bowl champion teams (Cotton, Holiday and Aloha), making an additional 10 catches for 190 yards and two touchdowns, one a 72-yard bomb from his best friend, quarterback Mike Moschetti, against Oregon in the ’98 Aloha Bowl.
 
He was a fifth-round selection by the Cleveland Browns in the 1999 National Football League Draft and went on to set the club’s rookie receiving record with 44 catches for 487 yards and four touchdowns. He spent four years in the NFL, also playing for Dallas and Atlanta; he would conclude his NFL career with 62 catches for 662 yards and seven scores. He then finished his professional playing days with the Austin Wranglers in the Arena Football League.
 
Chiaverini was born on October 12, 1977 in Orange, Calif., and graduated from Corona (Calif.) High School, where he was a USA Today honorable mention All-American in football and an All-County performer in baseball. He is married to Shannon (Burchfield) Chiaverini, and the couple has two children, Curtis, who was a player and student coach for the Colorado Buffaloes and currently serves as a coach at Northeastern State University, and Kaylie who graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with honors. She will start graduate school in the spring of 2025. 
 
AT-A-GLANCE—He has coached in 106 Division I-A (FBS) games as a full-time coach, and has coached in four bowl games (2009 Eagle Bank, 2015 Texas, 2016 Alamo, 2020 Alamo)
 
COACHING HISTORY
Season: Team – Position
2008: Mt. San Antonio College – Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach
2009: UCLA – Special Teams Assistant Coach
2010: Riverside City College – Co-Off. Coordinator/Associate HC/ Special Teams Coordinator
2011: Riverside City College – Co-Off. Coordinator/Associate HC/ Special Teams Coordinator
2012: Riverside City College – Co-Off. Coordinator/Associate HC/ Special Teams Coordinator
2013: Riverside City College – Co-Off. Coordinator/Associate HC/ Special Teams Coordinator
2014: Texas Tech University – Special Teams Coordinator
2015: Texas Tech University – Special Teams Coordinator/Outside Receivers Coach
2016: University of Colorado – Co-Offensive Coordinator/WR Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2017: University of Colorado – Co-Offensive Coordinator/WR Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2018: University of Colorado – Co-Offensive Coordinator/WR Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2019: University of Colorado – Assistant HC/WR Coach/Recruiting Coordinator/Interim HC
2020: University of Colorado – Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach
2021: University of Colorado – Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach
2022: UCLA – Offensive Analyst – Tight Ends/Wide Receivers
2023: Chaffey College – Head Coach