Inside the Headset Presented by CoachComm
CJ Nightingale, Head Coach – Belhaven University
November 26, 2025
On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, Belhaven University head coach CJ Nightingale shares his journey through the coaching profession. He discusses how his childhood experiences shaped his interest in coaching, the early opportunities that helped him grow, and the lessons he learned while starting out at Richmond High School.
Nightingale walks through his transition into college coaching, highlighting the key differences between his early roles and the development he gained while working at multiple programs. He also reflects on his time helping build the Indiana Wesleyan program and the leadership responsibilities he embraced as the defensive coordinator at Wheaton College.
Now leading the Belhaven Blazers, Nightingale outlines the steps he took when stepping into the head coaching position—from establishing priorities to hiring a staff aligned with his vision. He also shares insights from his participation in the 2022 AFCA 35 Under 35 class and how the experience contributed to his professional growth.
Listeners can hear the full conversation on their favorite podcast platform or on the AFCA YouTube channel.
🔗 Listen Here: https://linktr.ee/insidetheheadset
🔗 Follow Coach Nightingale: @Coach_CDN2
🔗 Follow Belhaven Football: @BelhavenFB
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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CJ Nightingale, Head Coach – Belhaven University
On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, Belhaven University head coach CJ Nightingale shares his journey through the coaching profession. He discusses how his childhood experiences shaped his interest in coaching, the early opportunities that helped him grow, and the lessons he learned while starting out at Richmond High School.
Nightingale walks through his transition into college coaching, highlighting the key differences between his early roles and the development he gained while working at multiple programs. He also reflects on his time helping build the Indiana Wesleyan program and the leadership responsibilities he embraced as the defensive coordinator at Wheaton College.
Now leading the Belhaven Blazers, Nightingale outlines the steps he took when stepping into the head coaching position—from establishing priorities to hiring a staff aligned with his vision. He also shares insights from his participation in the 2022 AFCA 35 Under 35 class and how the experience contributed to his professional growth.
Listeners can hear the full conversation on their favorite podcast platform or on the AFCA YouTube channel.
🔗 Listen Here: https://linktr.ee/insidetheheadset
🔗 Follow Coach Nightingale: @Coach_CDN2
🔗 Follow Belhaven Football: @BelhavenFB
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
