Wheaton, Ill. – Wheaton head football coach Jesse Scott has announced the promotion of two assistant coaches for the Thunder football coaching staff for the upcoming season. Chase Smith and Trevor Gabriele continue as Thunder assistant coaches for the 2026 campaign moving from part-time coaching positions to full-time roles.

Smith will serve as the defensive backs coach in a full-time role this season. Last season, Smith (PICTURED at LEFT) was a defensive backs assistant coach alongside Wyatt Lee who has been promoted to Wheaton's offensive coordinator. Scott says of him, "Chase was an outstanding addition to our staff a year ago. He loves Wheaton Football and is fully invested in our mission.  I'm excited about the way he will attack the additional responsibilities and opportunity in his new role."

Smith graduated from Wheaton in May of 2025 with a bachelor's degree in business and economics.  As a senior defensive back in 2024, Smith played every game for the Thunder, tallying  49 tackles including 27 solo stops. Additionally, he forced a fumble, recorded an interception and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown in his senior campaign. He played in 23 varsity games in his Thunder career with 67 total tackles, 10 passes broken up and an interception.

Gabriele joins the Thunder staff in a full-time role this season after serving as an offensive assistant in a part-time role in the 2025 campaign. He will serve as Wheaton's offensive line coach in the upcoming season. Scott says of him, "I'm excited to announce Trevor Gabriele as our new offensive line coach.  He was a huge help as an assistant through the past year.  More importantly, he is a gifted teacher and passionate leader."

Gabriele played four full seasons for the Thunder, earning All-American honors from D3football.com in 2022 and 2023. He is just one of two Wheaton offensive linemen to earn All-America honors from D3football.com in two seasons. Gabriele also earned

All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association and Associated Press in 2022. He was a three-time All-Region and All-CCIW selection in tenure on the Thunder offensive line.