In front of a packed third floor of the Carter Tower at Williams Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Liberty officially welcomed its new head football coach, Jamey Chadwell.

“God is good,” the 45-year old head coach opened his press conference saying. “I’d like to thank Ian and the administration for this unbelievable opportunity to be at Liberty University. I’m not only a believer, I’m a follower of Jesus Christ. When you get an opportunity to impact people at the most prestigious institution of higher learning for a Christian background which is Liberty University, you don’t pass that up. I believe God has ordained this opportunity. I am blessed to be the football coach here.”

Chadwell has spent the six seasons at Coastal Carolina, first as Interim Head Coach and then as Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator. For the past four seasons, Chadwell has been the head coach of the Chanticleers. He was 5-7 in his first season in 2019 before finishing 11-1 in 2020, 11-2 in 2021, and 9-3 following Coastal’s loss to Troy in the Sun Belt Championship game on Saturday evening.

Prior to his time in Conway, South Carolina, Chadwell led Charleston Southern for four seasons, compiling a 35-14 overall record and 16-5 mark in the Big South Conference. His tenure include two 10-win seasons and two FCS Playoff Appearances. Chadwell was 3-1 against Liberty during his tenure as head coach at Charleston Southern as both teams were members of the Big South at the time. Overall, he is 3-2 against the Flames as a head coach, as Liberty defeated the previously unbeaten Coastal Carolina in the 2020 Cure Bowl, 37-34 in overtime.

Chadwell was the head coach for Division II North Greenville from 2009-2011, improving their record from 20-8 in his first season to 20-6 over the next two years. He was also the head coach at Delta State for the 2012 season. Chadwell has a career record as a head coach as 99-57. His contract at Liberty is reportedly for seven years and at $4 million per year.

Both North Greenville and Charleston Southern are Christian institutions. After the past several seasons at a public school in Coastal Carolina, Chadwell says he’s grateful to be back in an environment that Liberty offers.

“I was craving to be back in an environment like this,” he said. “It’s a special, special place. I know it’s got special people.”

Chadwell played quarterback at East Tennessee State from 1995-1999. He would begin his coaching career at his alma mater where he coached several offensive positions from 2000-2003 before a five year sting as Charleston Southern’s offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator prior to the start of his head coaching career.

He takes over at Liberty after the Hugh Freeze who guided the program for four seasons as the Flames moved up to the FBS from the FCS ranks. The Flames won at least 8 games in each of Freeze’s four years, including an 8-4 mark this season.

As Liberty now prepares to move into the Conference USA, the goal turns to conference championships and possibly competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff. The CFP will expand to 12 teams for the conclusion of the 2024 football season, giving an automatic bid to the six highest ranked conference champions, opening the door for a team like Liberty should the Flames win the CUSA and be one of the highest ranked conference champions.

“We’ve got the opportunity to take this football program to the next level to Conference USA to compete for conference championships and staring in 2024, start competing in the CFP,” Chadwell stated.” That’s what the goal, as Ian and I sat and discussed this opportunity, the goal is to go out and try to be the very best we can in Conference USA and put ourselves in position to be one of those 12 teams in the CFP. That’s our ultimate goal, everything that we do will be working towards that.

Chadwell has spent time on the sidelines at Williams Stadium, but it has always been on the visitor’s side. He has been able to have success against the Flames with teams with fewer resources, at both Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina. He was 3-1 during his tenure at CSU against Liberty.

It was during one of those trips to Lynchburg, in 2016, when he was the head coach of the Buccaneers that he first thought about the possibility of being the coach at Liberty one day. Before he would get that opportunity, he would move to Coastal Carolina where he guided the Chanticleers, one of Liberty’s primary rivals.

“Every day that we wake up, our staff, it will be to do what is best for Liberty University and what’s best for this program,” Chadwell said. “I’m very privileged to be here and to be the head coach. It’s something that I dreamed about a long time, actually. I was telling Ian, in 2016, we came up here and I had a nice day, I thought there might be an opportunity one day to be the head coach here. Little did I know, going on seven seasons later, that I would be here. It’s surreal.”

There is a lot of work ahead for the head coach, who will begin by hitting the road recruiting as he attempts to hold onto the team’s verbal commitments. He must put together a coaching staff, evaluate his inherited roster, and turn his attention to the transfer portal. All of this work will lead towards the 2023 season opener as Liberty moves into its new conference home.

“We’re going to work hard every day to do that and to represent you in a manner that when you have that Liberty attire on across this country, everybody is going to know about Liberty University and how special the football program is,” Chadwell said. “I’m glad to be here.”