Years In Coaching: 18th
Years at USF: 4th
Alma Mater: Ohio State, ‘08 – Bachelor’s in education;
Austin Peay, “11 – Master’s in health and human performance
Family: Wife: Lisa; Daughters: Quinn, Cailyn and Kyler
Hometown: Jamestown, Ohio
NOTABLE:
• Guided USF punter Andrew Stokes to first team all-conference honors.
• Served as defensive coordinator at FCS, Division II and Division III levels.
Chad Creamer was named the Bulls’ special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach in December of 2022. He joined Brian Hartline’s first South Florida staff in December of 2025 retaining the same duties.
He came to USF after a season on staff at Tennessee and having served as defensive coordinator at the FCS, Division II and Division III levels at three previous college programs.
AT SOUTH FLORIDA: Creamer has been part of three straight bowl game appearances (2023-25), two bowl wins and a 9-4 season in 2025 that marked the Bulls most wins since 2017. The Bulls also returned to the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2018 and earned the program’s first College Football Playoff ranking in 2025.
He helped lead defenses that have collected 75 turnovers in the last three seasons–the third most in FBS over that time frame–and ranked among the top 15 in turnovers gained in each of the last three years and in tackles for loss in two of those seasons.
Creamer helped guide Bulls kicker Nico Gramatica to second team all-conference honors and 113 points in 2025, the second-best total in program history. Gramatica set a USF record with 59 PAT on the season, and his 18 field goals rank fourth for a season.
In 2024, punter Andrew Stokes earned first team all-conference and honorable-mention All-America honors, as the Ray Guy Award semifinalist’s 45.5-yard average and 27 punts inside the 20 were the second-best marks in program history. The Bulls ranked No. 7 nationally in net punting (43.3 ypp) and No. 18 in punt return defense (4.46). Former walk-on kicker John Cannon was named MVP of the Hawaii Bowl -making two clutch fourth quarter field goals (including a 41-yarder with 2 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime) and a 36-yarder in the second overtime.
In his first season at USF, he helped the Bulls produce 12 team and 16 individual records as the Bulls capped the biggest turnaround in program history (a six-win improvement) with a 45-0 rout of Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl. Defensive end Tramel Logan tied a program record with three defensive touchdowns and the bowl game shutout marked the largest in NCAA bowl game history.
USF finished 12th nationally and second in The American collecting 24 turnovers, including 10 fumbles to rank No. 16, and the Bulls’ four defensive touchdowns on the year ranked No. 8 nationally. USF stood No. 7 posting 7.5 tackles for loss per game as linebacker Jhalyn Shuler earned All-AAC honorable mention and led USF with 97 tackles. Walk-on kicker John Cannon led the Bulls with 85 points, hitting all 52 PAT and 11 of 16 field goals.
BEFORE SOUTH FLORIDA
TENNESSEE: Creamer came to USF from Tennessee (2022) where he served as a defensive analyst.
EARLY COACHING CAREER: Creamer spent two seasons at Shorter University (2018-19) as defensive coordinator/linebacker coach for the Division II program.
Prior to his time at Shorter, Creamer served as a defensive quality control coach at Cincinnati (2017) and for four seasons at Davidson College (2013-16) as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the FCS program.
Creamer spent a season as a player personnel assistant at Illinois (2012), spent two seasons guiding the defense at Division III Capital University (2010-11) and served as a graduate assistant at Austin Peay (2009) and an undergraduate assistant at Ohio State (2007-08).
After playing four seasons as a safety at Greenview High School in Jamestown, Ohio, Creamer bypassed a chance to play college football to become involved in the Ohio State program.
He started in the weight room, moved to work with the defensive backs and spent his final year at OSU helping one of the nation’s most respected defensive coordinators, Jim Heacock. His assignment included working with the defensive line during that two-year timeframe.
PERSONAL
A native of Jamestown, Ohio, Creamer earned a bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in sport and leisure studies at Ohio State and completed his master’s degree in health and human performance at Austin Peay in 2011.
Creamer and his wife, Lisa, have daughters, Quinn, Cailyn and Kyler.
COACHING CAREER
2023- USF Special Teams Coord./Outside Linebackers Coach
2020-22 Tennessee Defensive Analyst
2020 Boston College Special Teams Analyst
2018-19 Shorter University Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2017 Cincinnati Defensive Quality Control
2013-16 Davidson College Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2012 Illinois Player Personnel Assistant
2010-11 Capital University Defensive Coordinator
2009 Austin Peay Graduate Assistant
2007-08 Ohio State Undergraduate Assistant
