Liberty High School’s football coach, Scott Chandler (he/him), has become a steady presence in the program. Football has always been a part of his life. From playing in high school, playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes, to playing in the NFL, to now being the head coach for Liberty’s football team.
Last summer, Chandler participated as the assistant coach for the North team in the Iowa Shrine Bowl.
“It was an opportunity to give back and an opportunity to coach two guys whom I really enjoyed coaching one last time. I got to know some other coaches in the state, as well as supporting a really great cause,” Chandler said.
Although Chandler did not play in the Iowa Shrine Bowl, he did play in the Oil Bowl, a Texas high school classic that benefits local Shrine charities.
After Chandler finished playing in the NFL, he started a real estate investment company, which he focused on for a couple of years. When COVID-19 hit, he was watching a TV show called “Last Chance U,” and he realized he wanted to become a coach.
“In the show, they did this basketball season, where this guy was a coach at a junior college in East Los Angeles and his name was John Mosley. You could tell he made a huge impact on these kids’ lives and was an awesome coach. I thought to myself, ‘I need to do something with this football knowledge I have,’” Chandler said.
When Chandler came to Liberty, he started as an assistant coach and fell in love with it. He spent the next two years as the offensive coordinator, and when Liberty’s previous coach resigned, Chandler stepped into the position.
“I came to Liberty because I live here and I thought it was a unique opportunity to be a part of a place that does not have a tradition and try and really build something,” Chandler said.
When it comes to football games, Chandler loves seeing the support that the team has gotten from parents and students over the past two years.
“Looking up at that crowd at the state championship game was pretty special. I’ve been able to get to know a lot of people that I would not have been able to know in our community. It’s fun to drive down the road and be able to wave to people. It has been pretty great to integrate my family and me into our community,” Chandler said.
Chandler’s main focus when it comes to improving the team is to keep challenging for state titles. For him, the mark of a great program is consistency, even as players come and go.
To foster consistency, Chandler instills integrity and discipline, helping his team become better football players, which is essential to being a good team. These qualities benefit football players both on and off the field.
“I was a player for a really long time, I played in high school, college and nine years in the NFL, so I have the perspective of what it’s like to be a player. I understand that listening to some old guy talking is boring, so I try to make practice competitive and fun,” Chandler said. “I remember as a player some days you don’t want to go to practice, so how can I, as a coach, try to keep it fresh and fun?”
Coach Chandler’s influence at Liberty stretches far beyond winning football games. His commitment to discipline and character has built a foundation that the program will carry for years to come.
