Ooltewah names Chandler as head coach
Ooltewah High School announced Friday afternoon that Scott Chandler has been promoted to head football coach. Chandler was the Owls’ special teams coordinator and linebackers coach last season.
He takes over for Mac Bryan, who resigned last month to become head coach and athletic director at Avery County (N.C.) High. Chandler is a 1981 graduate of Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“To be the head coach at Ooltewah, especially to follow the list of guys who have coached here before me, it’s an honor,” Chandler said. “The expectations are high because of the success they had, and I want to continue that success with the program.
“I grew up in north Georgia, so I knew about Ooltewah. This is a good place with good people and good kids, and we’re ready to get to work.”
Chandler worked as a graduate assistant at Kansas State under then-defensive coordinator Bob Stoops and also has been a college assistant at Valdosta State and Emporia State. He has been a high school assistant at Rhea County, Trion and Gordon Central, where he worked as boys’ basketball coach as well.
Chandler’s only previous football-head coaching experience was three seasons at Coosa in Georgia, where he compiled a 20-15 overall record and two trips to the postseason. Coosa had a 15-year playoff drought before his hiring.
Ooltewah issued a news release stating, “After several quality applicants, the football search committee has decided to name Scott Chandler to this position. He brings great passion, knowledge and experience to this football team and its staff. His belief system is impeccable, and because of this he will bring great pride and respect to the Ooltewah community.”
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.