Jon Chhay is in his first season as an assistant coach for the St .Olaf football program in 2025-26 and primarily works with the cornerbacks.
Chhay joined James Kilian's staff with over 17 years of coaching experience across the high school, and collegiate levels. Known for his energy, attention to detail, and ability to develop players on and off the field, Chhay arrives at St. Olaf after building a reputation as one of Florida’s most innovative offensive minds at the high school level.
Before returning to Minnesota, Chhay served as the offensive coordinator at Bartow High School (Fla.), where he helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a Florida Class 6A playoff berth in 2024. Under his direction, the offense averaged nearly 300 yards per game and produced the most improved unit in Polk County. He developed record-setting quarterback Blake Johnson, who threw for 2,210 yards and 24 touchdowns while leading the team to a 6-5 finish.
Prior to Bartow, Chhay spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator at St. Pete High School (Fla.). There, he helped engineer a dramatic turnaround for a program that had gone 2-18 in the two years before his arrival. St. Pete posted back-to-back winning seasons and playoff appearances under Chhay’s leadership, while increasing scoring output from 27.8 PPG in 2022 to 34.7 PPG in 2023. The team won a district championship in 2023—their first in 13 years. He mentored dual-threat quarterback Jeffrey Jones, who amassed over 5,100 total yards and accounted for 58 touchdowns in two seasons, earning PCAC League MVP and back-to-back “Player of the Year” honors.
Chhay was twice selected to coach in the Pinellas County All-Star Game, serving as offensive coordinator in 2022 - resulting in the team’s first win in 16 years - and defensive line coach in 2023.
At the junior college level, Chhay spent two years at Ellsworth Community College (Iowa) where he coached both the offensive line and wide receivers, and also served as special teams and video coordinator. During his tenure, the Panthers became one of the most improved offenses in the NJCAA, finishing second nationally in passing offense improvement and third in total offense.
Chhay’s coaching foundation was built in Minnesota, where he spent over a decade as a high school assistant at programs including Mounds View, Irondale, and Robbinsdale Cooper. At Mounds View, he helped guide the team to a section title and state tournament appearance in 2019 and was instrumental in developing QB Cole Stenstrom, who threw for over 4,000 yards and signed with the University of South Dakota.
In addition to football, Chhay has coached multiple other sports, including baseball, basketball, and wrestling. He was part of a Minnesota high school baseball program that won three state championships and produced 14 Division I athletes, including MLB pitcher Sam Hentges (Cleveland Guardians).
A Hopkins, Minnesota native, Chhay was a team captain and two-way starter at Hopkins High School before playing college football at the University of St. Thomas. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education from St. Cloud State University.
Quick Facts
Hometown: Hopkins, Minn.
High School: Hopkins High School
College: St. Cloud State University (B.S., Special Education)
Coaching Experience
2025–Present – St. Olaf College – Cornerbacks Coach
2024 – Bartow High School (Fla. – Offensive Coordinator (QB)
2022–2023 – St. Pete High School (Fla.) – Offensive Coordinator (QB)
2021 – Ellsworth CC (Iowa) – Wide Receivers / Special Teams Coordinator
2020 – Ellsworth CC (Iowa) – Offensive Line
2017–2019 – Mounds View High School (Minn.) – Varsity Assistant (RB)
2014–2016 – Irondale High School (Minn.) – Varsity (WR, DL, LB)
2012–2013 – St. Francis High School – Varsity Assistant (RB, DB)
2011-2012 – Southwest Minneapolis High School – (RB)
2009–2011 – Robbinsdale Cooper HS – Varsity Assistant (LB, RB)
Postseason & All-Star Highlights
- 2024 – Florida Class 6A Playoffs (Bartow HS)
- 2023 – Florida Class 3M Playoffs & District Champion (St. Pete HS)
- 2023 – Pinellas South County All-Star Game (Defensive Line Coach)
- 2022 – Florida Class 3M Playoffs (St. Pete HS)
- 2022 – Pinellas South County All-Star Game (Offensive Coordinator)
- 2019 – Minnesota 6A State Tournament (Mounds View HS)
