Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina head football coach Mark Speir announces the addition of Deane Cheatham to the Catamounts’ defensive coaching staff. Cheatham will serve as the defensive assistant coach working primarily with the cornerbacks.
A former All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tight end at James Madison, Cheatham comes to Cullowhee after a year as a graduate assistant coach at Conference USA-member Marshall. At WCU, he will work alongside former JMU assistant coach, Tripp Weaver, in assisting with the secondary. He will also be involved in video film study, game break-down, and assisting in the press box on game days.
Cheatham spent five-years as a student-athlete at James Madison from 2011-2015, playing tight end and fullback for the Dukes’ offense. He played in 34 games during his collegiate career making 33 starts, finishing with 94 receptions for 1,110 yards and nine touchdowns. He added eight rushes for 25 yards and six kick returns for 124 yards coming in his senior season in 2015.
Named a captain his senior year, Cheatham was a second-team All-CAA honoree after ranking 10th in the CAA in yards per catch (13.7), while also collecting a pair of All-State plaudits from VaSID and the Roanoke Times.
Originally from Mechanicsville, Va., Cheatham played as a prep at Hanover High in where he was a two-way starter at running back and linebacker. He was the Capital District Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2010, helping guide his high school team to its first Capital District Championship. Out of high school, he was a two-star recruit according to Rivals.com when he was signed by JMU.
Cheatham is the son of Deane (III) and Cindy Cheatham.
Western Carolina’s football student-athletes report for the fall on Friday, Aug. 3 with the official start of team camp opening on Saturday, Aug. 4 with the first practice at Whitmire Stadium / Waters Field. The Catamounts open their 2018 campaign by hosting Newberry in Cullowhee as a part of a Labor Day weekend celebration. WCU looks to #WhiteOutWhitmire on Saturday, Sept. 1 with all fans encouraged to wear white to the game and the first 5,000 fans through the gates receiving a FREE white T-shirt. The game will conclude with a postgame fireworks extravaganza, presented by Ingles and iHeartRadio partners, 99.9 Kiss Country and Star 104.3.
Season tickets for all five home dates in 2018 are on-sale now through the WCU Athletics Ticket Office, located on the first floor of the Ramsey Center, by phone toll-free at (800) 34-GOWCU or locally at (828) 227-2401, or purchase tickets online at CatamountSports.com. Fans are invited to join Catamount Club and current members are reminded to renew to take advantage of the many perks surrounding home football weekends.
General admission season tickets for adults begin at just $75 with additional Purple and Gold Reserved and options in the Western Builders Inc., Family Zone seating options also available. A limited number of chairback season tickets are still available priced at just $125 for adults and $65 for youth (ages 3-12).
Purchasing season tickets allow fans to lock-in their seats before single-game tickets for individual home games go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018.
Important Upcoming Dates in Catamount Athletics / Catamount Football:
Friday, August 3 -- Catamount Football Student-Athletes Report for fall camp
Saturday, Aug. 4 -- First scheduled practice of 2018 preseason (helmet only)
Tuesday, Aug. 7 – Catamount Football single-game tickets go on sale
Thursday, Aug. 9 – WCU Photo Day / Media Day (3:30 pm); Facebook LIVE with Mark Speir (6:30 pm)
Friday, Aug. 17 – Western Carolina University Freshman Move-In Day
Monday, Aug. 20 – First day of classes for the fall semester
Friday, August 31 – “The Mutt" Catamount Football Golf Classic at The Maggie Valley Club
Saturday, Sept. 1 – 2018 Catamount Football season and home-opener vs. Newberry -- Fireworks Night
Friday, Oct. 12 – 14th annual Bob Waters Memorial Golf Tournament at the Laurel Ridge Country Club
Saturday, Oct. 13 – Catamount Football vs. Chattanooga – Hall of Fame Day
Keep track of everything related to Catamount football and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports) and Twitter (@catamounts, @WCU_FB), as well as video updates on the department's YouTube channel (CatamountSports).
