DEANE CHEATHAM IV MEMORIAL FUND
If you think back, there are probably some coaches that made a significant impact on your life – many of which likely still do today. They taught you how to win and how to lose. They showed you that the path to success included teamwork and a whole lot of hard work. These coaches were mentors and confidants and without them, you wouldn’t be who you are today.
Sadly, the pathway into coaching sports can be difficult and it can prevent some great people from entering the profession. Most of the entry level positions (often tabbed as “Graduate Assistants”) are unpaid. The Deane Cheatham IV Memorial Fund at JMU aims to change this. After a standout football career and after graduation, Deane became a Graduate Assistant Coach at JMU and helped lead the Dukes to a National Championship in 2017. Deane then started his football coaching trek from Harrisonburg and made stops at Marshall University, Western Carolina University, and Austin Peay University. In 2020, Deane exited the coaching professional and moved back home to Hanover County, where he entered into the construction management field. Deane was passionate about football and experienced firsthand the joys and challenges of the coaching profession.
He put his heart and soul into coaching young men for five years and the fund which bears his name is intended to help others do the same. The initial goal of The Deane Cheatham IV Memorial Fund is to provide an annual stipend to assist Graduate Assistants in the JMU football program with things like housing and other living expenses. A larger vision is to provide funds to colleges and high schools across the country to encourage individuals to enter the coaching profession who might not otherwise be able to do so because of financial reasons. We are grateful for your support in reloading the system with great young coaches who will go on to make a positive impact on the thousands of young adults that they coach.
If you have further questions about our goals or how to donate, please contact us.
OUR WHY
IN HONOR OF DEANE CHEATHAM IV
Sometimes it takes a tragedy for us to see how kind people can be. On January 7th, 2023, Deane Cheatham IV was tragically killed in a car accident. He was 30 years old. Deane grew up in Hanover County, Virginia, where he enjoyed sports, the outdoors, and being with his many friends. He excelled in football and lacrosse and attended James Madison University on a football scholarship. Deane returned from injury and even a disciplinary suspension to become a Team Captain and an All-Conference selection. Resilience, toughness, and intensity were all qualities that his character exuded. After college, Deane coached at the college level for five years. When COVID-19 cancelled the season at his last destination, he moved home and entered the construction management field.
In the days that followed his death, our family was flooded with visits, calls, emails, texts, and cards in the mail. Over 1,000 people came to the visitation and even more attended his funeral service. The outpouring of support and kindness from the community and all walks of our lives was truly amazing.
The stories we heard about Deane were remarkable. We were always proud of our son and brother, but we learned about a side of him that we weren’t exactly aware of. One young man told us that Deane saved his life; the young man was ready to kill himself several times and Deane successfully talked him out of it. One couple said they met Deane only once but were immediately in awe of his caring nature. At a summertime gathering of adults where kids would be bored to tears, Deane played and entertained the children for hours. Another young man who was a manager on the football team said that most of the players ignored him, and he would have to sit by himself when the team traveled to away games – but that changed when Deane joined the team. Even as a starter and a captain, Deane made time to talk with and get to know the manager and sit with him on the team’s trips. The stories of Little Deane’s kindness went on and on...and we don’t want the kindness to end now.
– The Cheatham Family
