New Harding Bisons O-Line Coach Named

Courtesy Harding University Department of Athletics

SEARCY – Harding University Bisons head football coach Ronnie Huckeba announced Tuesday that offensive coordinator Lee Edwards will be transitioning to a volunteer role and current volunteer coach Kevin Chism has been hired as Edwards’ replacement.

Chism, 35, will become the Bisons’ offensive line coach, and Edwards will become a full-time professor in Harding’s Bible department and will work with the football team’s slot backs.

“We are very appreciative of what Coach Lee Edwards has done as a mentor for the young men in our program,” Huckeba said. “We are very excited for him as he transitions to a full-time role in the Bible department.”

Chism, a native of Springfield, Mo., worked with the Harding Bisons offensive line last season as a volunteer after spending the 2010 and 2011 seasons as a graduate assistant.

“Coach Chism is a wonderful family man and a tremendous Christian example for our players,” Huckeba said. “He has a very thorough knowledge of our offense and has done a fantastic job with our offensive line over the last three seasons.”

Huckeba said the Harding offense will be coordinated collectively among the offensive coaches next season.

Chism recorded 54 tackles, including 13.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, in a three-year career as a defensive end at Harding from 1998-2000.

Edwards joined the Harding coaching staff in 2008 as the team’s defensive backs coach. In 2009, he switched to wide receivers before becoming the offensive coordinator in 2010. Over the last three seasons, Harding’s flexbone offense has ranked in the top five in rushing offense each season, including a Division II-best 360.91 rushing yards per game in 2011.