Stetson University Athletics

Chace Gadapee joined the Stetson Football coaching staff in 2025 and serves as Offensive Line Coach and Video Coordinator… A native of Titusville, Fla., Gadapee returned to his home state after coaching stops at St. Thomas, Central Missouri and Bethel University. Gadapee brings experience working with offensive lines and tight ends along with a playing background at quarterback… Before arriving in DeLand, he was part of a conference championship and NCAA Division II playoff run at Central Missouri while working within one of the most productive offenses in college football. In his first season with the Hatters, Gadapee helped oversee an offensive front that powered Stetson to a program-record 384 rushing yards against Davidson and consecutive Pioneer Football League victories for the first time since 2019. At Stetson, Gadapee works directly with the Hatters' offensive line while also overseeing video responsibilities for the program… His role combines position development with an important part of Stetson's film, preparation and game-planning operations. His background as a collegiate quarterback gives Gadapee a broad perspective on offensive structure, protection, communication and how each position works together within the unit. That perspective has carried into his work with the offensive line as Stetson continues to develop its run game and pass protection under head coach Mike Jasper. Gadapee's first season at Stetson included a major breakthrough for the Hatters' rushing attack and offensive front. On Oct. 4, Stetson rushed for a program-record 384 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-32 victory over Davidson… The win marked the Hatters' first Pioneer Football League victory since Oct. 7, 2023 and their first home PFL win since 2022. Quarterback Chris Stephenson led the rushing attack with 135 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries as Stetson established a new program standard on the ground. One week later, the Hatters rushed for another 242 yards in a 21-14 victory over Morehead State… The win gave Stetson consecutive PFL victories for the first time since 2019. Across the two-game conference winning streak, Stetson accumulated 626 rushing yards. Stetson's offense continued producing explosive results in 2026, including a dominant 45-10 victory over Webber International in the home opener at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium. The Hatters accumulated 500 yards of total offense while averaging 8.3 yards per play… Stetson produced 318 yards through the air and another 182 on the ground while converting 10 of 14 third-down opportunities. The offense did not commit a turnover and scored the game's first 31 points. Working with the offensive line, Gadapee plays a key role in developing the unit responsible for protecting Stetson's quarterbacks and establishing the running game. The Hatters' offensive front has helped produce several of the program's strongest rushing performances under Jasper… The record-setting effort against Davidson in 2025 was followed by another 242-yard performance against Morehead State one week later. In the 2026 home-opening victory over Webber International, Stetson again produced a balanced attack with 318 passing yards and 182 rushing yards while averaging more than eight yards per offensive play. Chris Stephenson provided the biggest plays on the ground, rushing for 113 yards and two touchdowns on only three carries, including a pair of 57-yard touchdown runs. Along with his offensive line responsibilities, Gadapee serves as Stetson's Video Coordinator… The position places him within the program's film, preparation and game-planning operations. His combination of coaching and video responsibilities allows him to contribute to both player development on the field and the preparation process away from it. Film breakdown, opponent evaluation and self-scouting provide another layer to Gadapee's role as the Hatters prepare throughout the season. Before joining Stetson, Gadapee spent the 2024 season at Pioneer Football League member St. Thomas, where he coached the tight ends. The experience provided Gadapee with familiarity with the PFL before making the move to DeLand and joining the Hatters. His season at St. Thomas followed a championship campaign at Central Missouri. Gadapee was part of a highly successful 2023 season at Central Missouri… The Mules finished 11-2, captured a conference championship and earned an NCAA Division II playoff victory. Working with the tight ends, Gadapee contributed to an offensive unit that finished among the most productive in college football. The championship season provided him experience working within a nationally productive offense while competing in the NCAA postseason. Prior to Central Missouri, Gadapee began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Bethel University in Minnesota… He served as the Royals' tight ends coach during the 2022 season. The opportunity allowed Gadapee to transition directly from his playing career into coaching at the same program where he had competed at quarterback. His experience at Bethel established the foundation for subsequent coaching opportunities at Central Missouri, St. Thomas and Stetson. Before entering the coaching profession, Gadapee played quarterback at Bethel University. During his collegiate career, Gadapee helped the Royals reach the NCAA Division III playoffs three times… His experience at quarterback provided firsthand understanding of offensive structure, protections, communication and the relationship between the quarterback and offensive line. That background continues to influence his approach as an offensive line coach. A native of Titusville, Fla., Gadapee graduated from Astronaut High School in 2018 before continuing his football career at Bethel University in Minnesota. His move to Stetson brought Gadapee back to his home state as he continued his collegiate coaching career in DeLand. Gadapee graduated from Bethel University with a bachelor's degree in secondary education communication, arts and literature.