George Chaump, the West Pittston graduate who went on to coach in professional and major college football, died May 19 at the age of 83.
Chaump held the position of head coach at the Naval Academy 1990-94, was one of Ohio State coach Woody Hayes’ top assistants and also served as an assistant coach with the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was on the staff of the 1968 Ohio State national championship team.
After going 33-16-1 as head coach at Marshall University for four years, Chaump was hired by Navy where his teams struggled to a combined 14-41 record. He had also been head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and later resumed his high school coach career at Central Dauphin, Harrisburg and Central Dauphin East.
It was at Harrisburg that Chaump first received attention for his coaching skills. After beginning his head coaching career at Shamokin, his Harrisburg teams went 58-4 and won six straight Central Penn championships, going unbeaten four times. That led to his hiring at Ohio State.
Chaump is credited with convincing Hayes to diversify his Ohio State offense and together, they coached in six Rose Bowls. He went from Ohio State to Tampa Bay to coach the offensive backs under John McKay.
Bloomsburg University and Marshall inducted Chaump into their athletics halls of fame. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.
Chaump played football and wrestled at Bloomsburg.
A memorial service is planned for June 1 at 1 p.m. at Pine Street Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg.
