Chris O'Leary returns to the Chargers in 2026 as defensive coordinator for his second season with the team, having coached safeties for the Bolts under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh in 2024. He spent the 2025 season as the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan.
O'Leary coached a Western Michigan defense in 2025 that helped the Broncos to a 10-4 record and a Mid-American Conference Championship, the fourth conference title in program history. He turned around a defensive unit to rank No. 9 in the FBS and second in the MAC in scoring defense (17.4 points allowed per game). O'Leary's defense also was the MAC's second-best unit in total net yards allowed per game (305.5), which ranked 19th in the nation. He coached senior defensive end Nadame Tucker to earn MAC Defensive Player of the Year as well as the Vern Smith Leadership Award, which annually recognizes the MAC's overall Most Valuable Player. Tucker was a first-team All-MAC recipient while safety Tate Hallock earned second-team honors and cornerback Joshua Franklin was a third-team selection.
As safeties coach with the Chargers in 2024, O'Leary contributed to a unit that led the NFL in scoring defense, allowing just 17.7 points per game. The Chargers were also the best red zone defense in football, allowing touchdowns on 45.0 percent of red zone drives. O'Leary coached safety Derwin James Jr., to his fourth Pro Bowl nod and an Associated Press second-team All-Pro after being just one of four NFL players — and the only defensive back — to have 70 tackles, five sacks, an interception and five passes defensed in 2024. James earned league recognition as AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December/January after posting three sacks, seven tackles for loss, an interception and a pair of pass breakups in the final six weeks of the season.
O'Leary was instrumental in helping the Notre Dame defense finish top-10 in the nation during the 2023 season in passing yards allowed per game (fourth), red zone defense (second) and total defense (eighth). The unit produced the best season in program history by allowing just 5.4 passing yards per attempt and leading the nation in defensive passing efficiency. O'Leary oversaw the development of wide receiver-turned-safety Xavier Watts, who led the nation with seven interceptions and was named an All-American and the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which annually recognizes the top defensive player in college football.
In his first season coaching the defensive backs in 2021, the unit ranked No. 10 in the nation in takeaways (25) and defensive third-down percentage, as O'Leary's guidance of Kyle Hamilton helped the safety earn consensus All-American recognition after appearing in just seven games. O'Leary also helped safety DJ Brown record a career-best 42 tackles and three interceptions, tying for the team lead in picks.
O'Leary coached as a graduate assistant in 2020 for Notre Dame, working with the 'rover' sub-group of the linebacker position. That year, he helped Butkus Award-winning linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah to All-America and Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Irish defense led the ACC in scoring defense (19.7 points per game), en route to the program's second appearance in the College Football Playoff. Prior to his time as a graduate assistant, O'Leary worked as a defensive analyst for the Fighting Irish, helping the program appear in its first College Football Playoff.
Following his playing career, O'Leary entered the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at Georgia State from 2015-16, helping coach the defensive line in his first season at Georgia State and then the defensive backs a year later. He then went on to coach safeties at Florida Tech during the 2017 season.
O'Leary played collegiately in his hometown of Terra Haute, Ind., at Indiana State University (2010-14). After redshirting in 2010, O'Leary appeared in 32 games over the next four years for Indiana State, hauling-in a career-high 33 receptions for 243 yards (7.4 avg.) as a senior wide receiver, while also adding a 38-yard touchdown pass against Northern Iowa.
As a three-year letterwinner at North Vigo High, O'Leary was named honorable mention all-state and Most Valuable Player in Vigo County after passing for over 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns through the air, along with 50 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground as a dual-threat quarterback. O'Leary also earned three varsity letters on the hardwood during his prep career.
O'Leary and his wife, Jessie, have three sons, Jack, Grant and Ford.
