Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell is in Arlington, Texas for CUSA Media Day ahead of the 2026 football season. Coach Chadwell met with the local assembled media at Texas Live as well as some online on Tuesday. Here’s everything he had to say during this media session, beginning with an opening statement from Coach Chadwell:
Full Video of Press Conference
“I appreciate everybody being here. Probably more than anytime personally, looking forward to this season. It’s no secret last year wasn’t obviously the type of program, type of team, type of season we wanted to have. It was because of me and not being able to be the type of head coach I need to be to help us have a chance to be successful. For us to get back this year, myself to get back and be healthy, have a chance to hopefully win a conference championship again, that’s what our ultimate goal is. We are looking forward to that as a team. Being able to represent Liberty in the way that they need to be represented. Last year was not that. It’s frustrating because when you are the main reason for that and I was. Looking forward to getting back out and getting this right back on track.”
What is the most important thing to have success this season?
“This group has done a really nice job of not allowing the noise, whether that is social media or the noise of what happened last year, be distractions of what they want to get accomplished. Having just one portal has allowed us to have this group together a long time. The last couple of years we would have a group and then lose about 30 guys in May. This group has been together. They’ve done a nice job of bonding and connecting. I believe they have probably been the strongest as far as staying together and working the last couple of years, which is nice to see.”
You return to Coastal Carolina this year, what are your thoughts on returning there?
“I’ve not thought a lot about the team yet. We are taking it day by day. That place meant a lot to myself, obviously, and my family. The type of players we had there. I’m excited about going back. I don’t know what my feeling will be there. I put a lot of effort in there. 6 years, it’s the longest I’ve ever been somewhere consecutively was there. I’m sure it will be emotional, personally. We know it’s a challenging place to play there. They’ve done a great job. Once we get to that one, we will talk more about it. We are excited about going there.“
Jaylin Belford was the Liberty nomination for the All State Good Works Team, how important is it to have players like him?
“Actually, just got married last week which is pretty awesome. He’s a local guy there. One thing about Jaylin, our team, you ask offense, defense, special teams, they love him. He’s always rallying our guys to go out and give to others. Whether that’s the local elementary schools or other avenues. He’s always trying to encourage to give back. He’s been a tremendous asset in our locker room because he’s so selfless. He’s well deserved of an award like that. When you look through what that’s about, it’s why he exists. Probably never been around a more selfless individual than Jaylin Belford. We are thankful he is on our team. He just got back off his honeymoon. He and his wife met at school. It’s an exciting time for him.”
How do you get your offense to being explosive again after last year?
“One, why weren’t we as good as we needed to be. We turned the ball over way more than we ever had. We had a lot of penalties. There were a lot of discipline, detailed things that is typically not representative of the type of offense we have been. I’m confident that this group will be better as far as knowing what to do, doing it the right way, not putting ourselves in a bad position to where we can’t be explosive. I think we will be better than we were last year. It’s not much worse we could have been than last year.”
How have the new transfer QBs Deshawn Purdie and Jaylen Henderson been in terms of leadership this offseason?
“They are the transfers that came in. They are battling for the job. I will share that both of those guys have been really good teammates. They have done a nice job of learning what to do offensively and also bringing people with them and putting the work in. They’ve done a nice job of making sure that both sides of the ball know who they are. They hang around with them and spend time with them, the quarterbacks, everybody. I think both of them have done a nice job of that as far as putting themselves in positions to hopefully be the guy. More important than that, be the number one leader on the team. Ethan Vasko is returning. He’s done a nice job of that. It will be a big battle there.”
How is your health?
“This is probably the best as far as physically, as far as inside, probably the last few years that I have felt. The last two years I couldn’t figure out what it was. The whole 2024 season I was doing a lot of blood work, trying to figure out what was going on, couldn’t figure it out. Obviously, we figured it out right before the season last year. Not ideal but it was a blessing to figure out what was going on. I feel physically the best I’ve felt since 2023. Now, there’s still some body, physical limitations that I’m still working through. As far as my mind and the way I was feeling compared to the last couple of years, night and day. That’s why I’ve been waiting for this season a long time because I feel like I’m back at least health wise prior to. When you don’t know what’s going on and you’re trying to figure it out, you think about everything. (getting emotional) Disappointed that I allowed it to interfere with us last year, but it won’t happen again.“
How are you using AI in your program?
“We’re doing everything we possibly can to improve our program. AI has been something that we have been using whether that is scouting, whether that is recruiting, whether t hat is game planning. We are using it to try and benefit to see how the best our team can improve. Not saying we’re great at it yet, but we’re figuring things out. We are using it.”
