ASOR can confirm several reports stating Coastal Carolina head football coach Jamey Chadwell is set to be named the 10th head football coach at Liberty. Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated was the first to report the deal had been finalized, he also reports Chadwell’s deal is for 5+ years at $4 million per year. Liberty is expected to have a press conference Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. to formally announce the hire.
Liberty made the hire official just after 2 p.m. with a press release.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Chadwell and his family to Liberty,” said Liberty Director of Athletics Ian McCaw. “He is one of the most sought after and accomplished coaches in the country. Moreover, he is a tremendous fit for our University and mission of Training Champions for Christ.”
In the school release, Liberty Interim President Jerry Prevo stated, “I am excited to welcome Coach Chadwell to Liberty University. I believe our football program will continue to grow into becoming one of the top football teams in the country under his leadership.”
The 45-year old will take the reigns of the Flames’ football program coming off four straight eight plus win seasons under the direction of Hugh Freeze. Chadwell has been the head coach of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers for the past four seasons. 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.
He was Coastal’s Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the 2017-2018 campaigns, serving as Interim Head Coach in 2017 when the Chanticleers finished 3-9 in their first year in the Sun Belt.
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.
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.
Liberty and Coastal Carolina had a long standing rivalry in the Big South. The two programs often decided the Big South champion for many years. Since 2003, the two schools have met 15 times on the gridiron with the Flames holding a slight advantage in the all-time series, 8-7.
Chadwell was reportedly making around $900,000 per year at Coastal Carolina. Liberty was reportedly paying Hugh Freeze as much as $5 million annually with his most recent contract extension.
