Dylan Lewellyn is entering his second season on Liberty’s coaching staff but first as the team’s Special Teams Coordinator. He joined the staff under head coach Jamey Chadwell prior to the start of the 2024 campaign as a quality control special teams coach.
Lewellyn comes to Liberty after nine years serving on the staff at East Tennessee State. It was there he began his coaching career shortly after finishing his collegiate playing days where he excelled on the gridiron for the Flames from 2010-14. Originally from High Point, North Carolina, Lewellyn played in 37 games while making 17 starts during his time on the field with the Flames. He was part of four Big South Championship teams, finishing his senior year fourth on the team with 62 tackles. He was part of a senior class that won 38 games over their career and advanced to the FCS Playoffs in 2014 where Liberty knocked off James Madison in the first round.
Now, Lewellyn is thrilled to be back at his alma mater coaching.
“It was a surreal moment,” he said about having the opportunity to return to Liberty. “I remember coming to a game back in 2008 as a junior in high school. Things were a little different back t hen, but if you would have told me I would come back and be a coach here at Liberty, I would have told somebody to pinch me. It’s definitely awesome.”
Dylan is following in his brothers footsteps somewhat. His older brother Bryant Lewellyn played for the Flames from 2009-12 under Turner Gill. Shortly after finishing his career, he joined Liberty’s staff under Gill as defensive tackles coach.
Prior to returning to the Mountain on staff a year ago, Dylan says he hadn’t been on campus since 2016, only seeing pictures and videos of the expanded campus and football facilities.
“Getting back and seeing campus was incredible,” he said. “The stadium, wow, this is big time college football. I’m blessed to be back. The Lord does exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ask. I wasn’t expecting it, but the Lord opened the door and I got back here somehow.”
Dylan Lewellyn during his playing career at Liberty
It was a bit of a long and winding path for him to get back to his alma mater. While playing for the Flames, Dylan played under Carl Torbush at linebacker. Torbush retired while at Liberty, but he was tasked to help restart the football program at ETSU a couple years later. Torbush quickly turned to Dylan to add him to his first coaching staff. Lewellyn began at ETSU as a grad assistant in 2015 before being promoted to outside linebackers coach in 2016.
He worked under three head coaches in his time at ETSU. After three years with Torbush, Lewellyn then stayed on staff under the next two head coaches, Randy Sanders and George Quarles. While he was at ETSU, Billy Taylor was the defensive coordinator. Taylor was also on staff at ETSU in the late 1990s when current Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell played his college football for the Buccaneers. It was that connection that helped bring Dylan back to Liberty.
“It’s all about who you know right,” Dylan quipped.
When Dylan was playing football for the Flames and dominating the Big South, he faced off against Chadwell during his first two seasons as head coach at Charleston Southern. Now, the two have joined forces as Lewellyn sets to lead the special teams this season.
“I’m grateful,” Lewellyn said of being back at Liberty. “That’s why I have to approach every day with gratitude. I remind myself you are at Liberty University coaching football. I want to approach my day with gratitude.”
*photos courtesy Liberty University Athletics
