Members
Inductee
CHESTER, DEON
CHESTER, DEON
Born on
Inducted On
September 26, 2025
Location Inducted
Newburgh, Indiana
Region Number
9
Castle High School
Player
Castle High School
1984
Deon was a 1983 All-State football selection, in 1982, he was an Honorable Mention All-Stater. He was selected to play in the North/South All-Star selection. In his senior year, Deon was named team captain. He was All-SIAC in 1982 & 1983. He caught 55 passes as a receiver with 1055 receiving yards and 11 interceptions as a safety in two varsity seasons. Castle was ranked by USA Today as a Top 15 Team in 1982 & 83. His team had undefeated regular seasons in 1982 and 1983 and a winning streak of 25 straight games. In Deon's junior year, he won the 1982 3A State Championship (14-0). Deon was a two-way starter and earned 9 letters in four sports at Castle, playing for legendary Hall of Fame Coach John Lidy.
Ball State University
B.S. 1988, M.S. 1999
Deon lettered in football for the Cardinals from 1984-1988. In 1984, he was awarded Ball State's John Hodge Award given to the team's Most Outstanding Freshman. As a senior, Deon was voted a team captain. He won Ball State's John V. Magnabosco Award as the team's Most Valuable Player in 1987, his senior season. In 1987, he was selected All-MAC second team, setting Ball State records for receptions with 146 and receiving yards with 2,256. The two career records stood for 17 years until they were broken in 2004. Deon played in 43 of the teams 44 games in his collegiate career, including 37 starts in his final 38 games. Deon ended his collegiate career ranked fourth in the MAC in career receptions and third in reception yardage. He was inducted into the Ball State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
His other honors included: Eagle Scout Award, member of the Greater Evansville Football Hall of Fame in 2016, selected as NFL Summer Fellowship by the Miami Dolphins in 1996 with Head Coach Jimmy Johnson.
Deon and his wife, Katrina have two children, Olivia and Donovan.
After his playing days at Ball State University, he began his coaching career. His coaching experiences include Lawrence Central High School, in football and track, coached wide receivers at Ball State, wide receivers at Indiana University, wide receivers at Temple University, running backs at Western Michigan and was a coach/instructor at the Bishop/Dullaghan Camps.