Northeastern State University Athletics

Curtis Chiaverini enters his third season on the Northeastern State Football coaching staff as its Quarterback Coach, his second as its Recruiting Coordinator, and his first as its Passing Game Coordinator.

The 2025 campaign saw Chiaverini develop Snow College transfer Donnie Smith, who produced the program's most statistically prolific season by a quarterback in his first year in Tahlequah. Smith broke single-season program records in total offense (2,962 yards), passing yards (3,045), completions (231), passing yards per game (253.8) and completion percentage (71.1%). Smith's 23 touchdown passes marked the most by an individual since 2016 and tied NSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Roy Burk for the third-most in a single season in program history. Smith capped his season by earning First Americans Bowl Player of the Game honors against East Central after setting program postseason records with five touchdown passes and 406 passing yards.

Chiaverini's work with Smith helped fuel one of NSU's most productive passing offenses in recent history. The RiverHawks tallied 285.2 passing yards per game, the most in a season since 2011. The team also averaged 9.3 yards per attempt, the highest mark in recorded program history.

In his first season serving as Recruiting Coordinator, the RiverHawks found many high-impact contributors from their class of freshmen and transfers. In addition to Smith, the RiverHawks found a history-maker on the offensive end in starting center Justus Gilliam, who became the first true freshman in recorded program history to start 12 games on the offensive line. The 2025 newcomers class also produced All-Americans in Western Kentucky transfer Marvelous Owens and Garden City CC transfer Mo Foketi. Owens recorded seven interceptions and 11 pass breakups to become the first defender in the program since 2013 to earn All-American honors and the first to earn First Team All-American honors since 2010. Foketi became NSU's first special teams All-American since 2009 after breaking the single-season program record with a 45.3-yard punting average.

Additionally, NSU's top two tacklers were newcomers in the form of Mississippi College transfer Khaden Walker and true freshman Kale Charboneau. The duo tied for the team lead with 73 tackles, with Charboneau recording the highest total by an NSU true freshman since 2003. Charboneau also set NSU's single-season true freshman records for tackles for loss (11.5) and solo tackles (43).

Meanwhile, Jordan Tolbert set the program's NCAA-era record for a true freshman with four interceptions. True freshmen Lloyd McIntosh and Michael Esparza each made starts in the secondary, while Northeastern Oklahoma A&M transfer Sim Kilpatrick was a regular contributor in the secondary with four pass breakups and two interceptions, including a game-sealing pick in his debut against Saginaw Valley in the Red Feather Classic.

Chiaverini assisted in the development of starting quarterback Dereun Dortch in 2024. Dortch accounted for 1,760 passing yards and 21 total touchdowns (17 passing, four rushing), both marking the highest totals for a Northeastern State signal-caller since 2016. The passing game excelled in the fall, 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. 

Chiaverini joined the program in the winter of 2024 and came to NSU from Abilene Christian (Texas) where he was an Offensive Analyst for the Wildcats during the 2023 season.  He previously held a similar role at the University of Northern Colorado.

Chiaverini was also a student coach at the University of Colorado following a playing career with the Buffaloes where he played wide receiver. 

In high school, he was a two-time All-League wide receiver and helped Valor Christian win the 2016 Colorado Class 5A State Championship.