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Home / Sports / Iowa High School Sports / Iowa High School Football
Chandler was offensive coordinator for Lightning past 3 seasons
Jun. 1, 2024 9:33 am, Updated: Jun. 1, 2024 10:10 am
CEDAR RAPIDS — Scott Chandler had no desire to transition into coaching when his football playing career ended in 2015.
He’d somehow secured parts of seven seasons in the National Football League as a tight end for the San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots.
A former University of Iowa guy, Chandler ended up playing 90 NFL games, caught 205 passes and scored 21 touchdowns. Most of that damage was done with Buffalo.
His last season came with the Patriots, and his body, specifically his knee, became an issue.
“When I got done in the NFL, I really needed a break mentally,” Chandler said Friday night, a day after being named new head coach at Iowa City Liberty High School. “I’ve always loved the Xs and the Os, but my knee that last year in New England … That was a mentally tough year, grinding just to get ready for practice every day, having rehab every single day after practice. I needed some time away.”
While away, he came across the Nexflix series “Last Chance U.” Watching some of the shows about football coaches got his football gears grinding again.
Then a show about John Mosley, a basketball coach at East Los Angeles Community College pushed him over the top. Chandler wanted to be a coach.
“The way he had a passion for his kids, I thought ‘You know, I need to do something more with this football knowledge, instead of just sitting here,’” Chandler said. “So you get in, and I love the Xs and the Os part of it. But the best part is the kids and the relationships you build with the kids and the coaches. Just being able to be out there on Friday nights, we seem to kind of have our whole community involved. That’s really the best part.”
Chandler was offensive coordinator the past three years at Liberty. Pending school board approval, he’ll replace James Harris, who recently resigned as head coach.
“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Chandler said. “I think high school football is probably as fun as it gets. I was lucky enough to play for Southlake Carroll (High School) down in Texas, which is a storied, traditional program. A powerhouse. I don’t know that I ever had more fun in football than my senior year. I love high school, I love the age, the last three years has been a lot of fun working with them. I’m just really excited for the opportunity, as a member of this community, to represent this community as head football coach.”
Chandler’s wife is from Oelwein and the couple have four children, which led to them coming back to Iowa to live after Chandler’s playing career. Liberty went 4-5 in the 2023 season, its first in Class 5A, including a win over city rival Iowa City High.
“I think since Coach Harris came in, the program has been on an upward trajectory,” Chandler said. “Obviously moving up to 5A last season had its difficulties. But I want to get the momentum going in the same direction that Coach Harris had it. The precedent that he set, I want to continue just building off that. I think we have the ability in this community to build something special. We’ve got a great group of other coaches and a great group of kids.”
Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
K.J. Pilcher
Mike Hlas
John Steppe
Sports Reporter, The Gazette
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