University of St. Francis (III.)

Jeff Chiapello joined the Fighting Saints in July of 2005 as an assistant coach for the men’s track & field team. The 2025-26 season will mark Chiapello’s 21st year assisting the program.

At St. Francis, Chiapello assists the program in coordination of practice plans, individual player development, and implementation of strength & conditioning strategies for middle and long-distance runners.

Through the 2024 season, Chiapello has aided the cross country programs to finishes in the NAIA Top 25 a total of 19 times (12 men, 7 women).  The Saints also won 14 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) men's titles and 9 CCAC women's championships.  He has also coached 31 NAIA cross country All-Americans.

With his assistance on the track side, Chiapello has helped compile a combined 16 NAIA Top 25 team finishes between men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field.  Chiapello has coached 197 NAIA track & field All-Americans and his resume also includes five CCAC men's and women's track & field team titles.

In 2017 and 2020, Chiapello was selected as the USTFCCCA NAIA Midwest Region’s Indoor Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year.

Chiapello graduated from the NCAA Division III North Central College (Ill.) in 2005 where he was a standout middle to long-distance runner for both the nationally-ranked cross country and track & field programs.  During his four years as a Cardinal, he also served on the student board of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was the president of the Catholic Student Union.