Chandler has served as the Lightning's offensive coordinator for the past three seasons.
June 1, 2024 9:33 AM, Updated: June 1, 2024 10:10 AM
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) celebrates a touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012 in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
CEDAR RAPIDS — When Scott Chandler's football career ended in 2015, he had no desire to move into coaching.
He managed to secure parts of seven seasons in the National Football League as a tight end with the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots.
The former Iowa product Chandler played in 90 NFL games, catching 205 passes and scoring 21 touchdowns, most of which came with Buffalo.
His final season was with the Patriots, where his body, especially his knees, became an issue.
“When I retired from the NFL, I really needed a break mentally,” Chandler said Friday night, the day after he was named the new head coach at Iowa City Liberty High School. “I've always loved the X's and O's, but my final year in New England was tough on me with my knee. It was a tough year mentally. Just getting ready for practice every day was tough, and then I was doing rehab every day after practice. I just needed some time to rest.”
While studying abroad, he came across the Nexflix series “Last Chance U.” After watching several shows about football coaches, his passion for football was reignited.
Then a show about East Los Angeles Community College basketball coach John Mosley hooked him: Chandler wanted to be a coach.
“Seeing the passion he has for the kids made me think, 'I need to do something with all this football knowledge and not just sit here,'” Chandler said. “So I got involved and loved every bit of it, but the best part is the kids and the relationships you build with the kids and the coaches. Just being there on Friday nights makes us feel like the whole community is involved, and that's really the best part.”
Chandler has served as offensive coordinator at Liberty High School for the past three years and, pending approval by the School Committee, will replace James Harris, who recently resigned as head coach.
“I'm happy to have this opportunity,” Chandler said. “I think high school football is a blast. I was fortunate to play at Southlake Carroll High School in Texas, a historic, traditional program and a powerhouse school. I've never enjoyed football more than I did my senior year. I love my high school and I love this era. I've had a lot of fun working with these guys these past three years. I'm really happy to have the opportunity to be a part of this community and represent it as the head football coach.”
Chandler's wife is from Oelwein, and the couple has four children, which is why he moved back to Iowa to live after his playing days. Liberty is 4-5 in the 2023 season, including its Class 5A opener, a win over rival Iowa City High School.
“I think the program has been on an upward trajectory since Coach Harris arrived,” Chandler said. “Going up to 5A last season was difficult, obviously, but I want to continue to build on the momentum that Coach Harris had. I want to continue to build on the precedent that he set. I think this community has the capacity to build something special. We have a great coaching staff and great kids.”
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