From 1954 to 1986, Roger Chiaverini established a reputation as a consistent winning football coach for five Michigan high schools with a 31-year total of 179 wins, 82 losses and 10 ties. His .793 winning percentage with two Muskegon area schools (Muskegon and Muskegon Catholic) ranks with the very best of local coaching careers.
Born in Italy, Chiaverini came to America as a small child in 1929. After graduation from Detroit Western High School in 1944, he enrolled at the University of Michigan, then transferred to Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo where he completed his undergraduate and graduate work. A graduate assistant with the Bronco gridiron squad, “Chev” landed his first head football coaching assignment at Adrian High School in 1954, followed by a six-year stop at Monroe High School. In the fall of 1964, Chiaverini was hired by Muskegon High School to resurrect the winning football tradition of the Big Reds. “Chev” proved to be the man of the hour, giving Muskegon a 5-2-2 record in his first year, followed by two undefeated seasons in 1965 and 1966. Through the 1970 season, Chiaverini’s Big Reds were 49-11-3, including two championships in the tough Lake Michigan Athletic Conference.

Despite the prospects of an outstanding Big Red squad for 1971 (they won the mythical state championship) Chiaverini was lured to conference rival Muskegon Catholic Central. Employed to improve the Crusaders’ gridiron program, he again delivered. Over the next eight seasons “Chev” led Catholic to a 56-15-1 mark, including an undefeated Class B mythical state crown in 1974.

Chiaverini completed his coaching career with Holland West Ottawa High School from 1979 to 1986, after which he “retired” from head coaching duties. Unable to divorce himself completely from his love of high school football, “Chev” continued to dispense his expertise as an assistant to former coaching colleagues and students at Reeths-Puffer, Mona Shores and Muskegon.