Chismar began his college football coaching career at Bowling Green State University in 1970 as an assistant on Don Nehlen's staff.
He remained at Bowling Green through the 1973 season before moving to Michigan State University in 1974 to coach the offensive line under Denny Stolz and then Darryl Rogers.
When Rogers's became the head coach at Arizona State University in 1980, Chismar moved with him to serve as offensive coordinator.
[1][2] Chismar helped lead the Arizona State Sun Devils to the 1983 Fiesta Bowl, where they defeated the Oklahoma and finished the season ranked No.
[3] Following Wichita State discontinuing its football program after the conclusion of the 1986 season,[4] Chismar returned to assistant coaching at Rice University.