In a stunning overnight development, the MAC Champion Western Michigan Broncos are set to be on the look for a new defensive playcaller, as the Los Angeles Chargers have hired Chris O’Leary as their new defensive coordinator.
The move was announced just after midnight Eastern time on Thursday morning.
O’Leary, who joined WMU’s staff in 2025, had previously served as a safeties coach for the Chargers in 2024. O’Leary will replace his former boss Jesse Minter, who was hired as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the NFL coaching cycle.
The transformation Western Michigan undertook in one year under O’Leary’s leadership was nothing short of a miracle; the Broncos jumped from a moribund 118th in total defense in 2024 to 14th in 2025, while shedding their points allowed per game from 31.3 points to 17.3, finishing top 10 in the NCAA in points allowed.
WMU’s defense was essentially unmatched in the MAC— especially in league play. WMU finished 19th in the NCAA in total offensive yards allowed (305.5), trailing only Toledo in the conference, while also squashing opponents in-league to an average of 14.5 points per contest.
The Myrtle Beach Bowl was a showcase for the WMU defense, which put the smackdown on Conference USA champion Kennesaw State to the tune of six total points, seven tackles-for-loss, five sacks and three forced turnovers— including a scoop-and-score touchdown from 47 yards out and a 75-yard interception return touchdown.
O’Leary was also instrumental in the development of EDGE rusher Nadame Tucker, who went from a relatively unknown transfer portal product to the first MAC Player of the Year to play defense since 2018 after a monster season which saw him pick up 55 tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 16 QB hurries.
Prior to his first stint with LA, O’Leary cut his teeth at the college level with Notre Dame as a defensive assistant from 2018 to 2023, working primarily with safeties and linebackers. O’Leary is credited with the development of multiple future NFL draft picks, such as Xavier Watts and Kyle Hamilton.
Western Michigan, who expected O’Leary to be back after signing a contract extension with him in December, will be searching for their third defensive coordinator in as many years. Scott Power, who held the position in 2024, left in 2025 to be the head coach at Division II Central Washington University, while Lou Esposito, a holdover from the Tim Lester administration, left the program after 2023 with the intention to join Memphis as a co-defensive coordinator before instead taking the defensive line position at Michigan.
