Adam Chicoine is in his fourth season as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach on the Wesleyan football coaching staff in the 2025 season. No stranger to the NESCAC, Chicoine first came to Wesleyan are having served as an assistant coach at Colby since the 2018 season while he served as the Mules’ defensive coordinator since 2019.
A member of the 2024 NESCAC Coaching Staff of the Year, which marked the team's first-ever NESCAC Coaching Staff recognition, Chicoine helped lift the Cardinals to the team's best season in the modern era in 2024, as Wesleyan went 8-1, captured a third straight Little Three title, and culminated in the team's first-ever outright NESCAC Championship. Opening the year with a 43-7 drubbing of Middlebury on the road, that win marked the Panthers' biggest home loss in over 40 years. Wesleyan then held Tufts without a touchdown in a 20-9 triumph under the lights at home. After suffering their first defeat of the season to Bates in Week 3, the Cardinals rebounded with six straight wins to end the year. That six-game win streak started with 19 unanswered fourth quarter points to defeat Hamilton on the road 19-7. Jake Edwards returned a fumble 88 yards for a game-winning, walk-off overtime touchdown in a 23-17 win over Colby in Week 5. The Cardinals held off Bowdoin for a 17-14 road win before scoring 31 unanswered to defeat Amherst 31-14 in a game that Wesleyan trailed 14-0 in the first quarter. With a third straight Little 3 title on the line, the Cardinals drove over 90 yards down the field with less than two minutes to play in regulation, as WR Luke LaSaracina '25 hauled in a game-deciding touchdown with six seconds left as Wesleyan defeated Williams 25-24 in an epic clash to claim three straight Little Three Championships for the first time since 1946-48. Then in the season finale, Wesleyan's defense held Trinity scoreless in the second half, converting two lengthy fourth downs in pivotal moments in the fourth quarter, to defeat Trinity 27-17 in what was the de-facto NESCAC Championship game in Hartford.
Chicoine was the architect behind a 2024 Wesleyan defense that ranked first in the NESCAC in scoring defense, passing defense, fumbles recovered, opponent first downs, opponent third down success rate, and red zone defense. Across the country, Wesleyan's defense ranked 19th in total defense (253.9), 24th in scoring defense (14.8), 19th in passing yards allowed (156.8), 1st in fewest first downs allowed (121), and 7th in third down defense (26.7).
The Cardinal defense featured a record-breaking seven All-NESCAC First Team selections, as the previous NESCAC record for most First Team honorees on one team was Amherst with six back in 2001. LB Ben Carbeau '25 earned NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, as well as the Joe Zabilski Award given to the top defensive player in New England across Divisions II and III.
At Colby, Chicoine was hired in July 2018 and started as a defensive backs coach for the 2018 campaign. He then moved to defensive line in 2019 while earning a promotion to defensive coordinator. Chicoine has since served as linebackers coach for the last two seasons (2020-21) while continuing his role as Colby’s defensive coordinator.
In his role as defensive coordinator, Chicoine coordinated all phases of the defense including play calling duties. Colby’s defense ranked second in the nation in red zone efficiency in 2021 while the Mules gave up just 20.4 points per game (5th in the NESCAC).
Prior to Colby, Chicoine was an assistant coach – working with both the defensive line and defensive back units – in three seasons at Norwich University in Vermont. He worked with the defensive line for two seasons (2015-16) before moving to defensive backs in 2017. He also worked with kickoff, kickoff return, punt and punt return special teams units throughout his tenure at Norwich. In his final season, his first working with the defensive backs, Norwich ranked fourth in the nation in pass defense.
His first coaching experience came at his alma mater as Chicoine was an assistant coach for Castleton University from 2011 through 2015. He worked with the outside linebackers for two seasons (2011-12) before shifting to defensive line in 2013 and finally inside linebackers in 2014. Special teams were an emphasis as he worked with kickoff and punt units while he assisted in formulating game plans each week, specializing in opponent run game and protections.
Chicoine earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy (coaching minor) in December 2012 and a master’s degree in education from Castleton in May 2015. He is a native of Burlington, Vermont.
