Growing up, most athletes dream of playing the sport they love for a professional coach. For members of the Bluffton University Football team, that dream became a reality on Feb. 18, when Chris Mosley joined the university’s football coaching staff. Now serving as Bluffton’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Mosley’s résumé includes time spent with Villanova University, Boston College, Princeton University, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins.
Mosley’s connection to Bluffton comes directly from head coach Aaron Krepps. Mosley graduated from Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College in 2001, before coming back in 2004 to coach for a year. Krepps was a junior at Washington & Jefferson in 2004, and he said the two have kept in touch ever since.
“We’re very fortunate to get Coach Mosley here based off of his résumé,” said Krepps. “It’s something that’s very uncommon for a man of his ability to end up at a Division III school. It’s probably been more fate than anything that things lined up. We had a position that was tailored to him in a sense—something that he was looking for—and he needed work.”
Krepps said Mosley brings experience, instant credibility and passion to the program. Additionally, he said they share similar coaching philosophies which will help with player development and relationship building.
“I’ve seen a lot of excitement from the team,” said Krepps. “You saw it in the first meeting. He demanded respect right out of the gate.
He’s been in those meeting rooms at the professional level and at the Division I level, so the guys have an utmost respect for him right out of the gate because of where he’s been. The addition of him right now is out of this world.”
The meeting rooms Krepps referenced were that of in Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins. Mosley cited Mike Pouncey, Michael Bennett, Jake Long, Richie Incognito and Donald Penn as some of his favorite players he coached during his time in the NFL.
Mosley said the main difference between coaching in the NFL and coaching at the college level is the academic aspect at a university.
“In terms of how you treat the players, it’s no different,” Mosley said. “You expect guys to show up on time and get to work, so it’s similar in terms of dealing with accountability between college and professional. Other than you’re playing with some of the best toys in the toy box, there’s not too much different in terms of how you go about doing your job.”
While at Bluffton, Mosley said he is looking forward for the chance to develop young players, both on the field and off.
“Hopefully I can pass some of my knowledge on to them, not only on the football field but beyond football,” said Mosley. “You only play for so long, and less than 1 percent make it to the next level, so it’s really about how you prepare yourself for life after that.
Hopefully I can give some life experiences—along with helping with football—to create well-rounded men once they leave the campus of Bluffton University.”
Mosley also said he is excited about the opportunity to work for Krepps.
“He was a great player, and his morals, his values and his standards haven’t changed at all,” said Mosley. “I’m not surprised to see him in the position that he is now.”
Overall, Mosley is ready to get to work for next season.
“It’s good to hopefully have the chance to do something that hasn’t been done here in several years, which includes winning a conference championship and getting into the playoffs,” Mosley said. “Being a part of turning the program around and being part of the rebuilding process is what I’m looking forward to.”