Liberty Flames Coaching Staff 2024: Liberty University’s Football Program To New Heights, Reinforcing Its Reputation
Jamey Chadwell and his coaching staff are looking to lead the Liberty Flames to the College Football Playoff in 2025. Who makes up the Flames’ coaching staff?
In his inaugural season as head coach at Liberty, Jamey Chadwell led the Flames to an exceptional 13-1 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.
Now, the Flames are focused on achieving a perfect season and securing a place in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. To reach this goal, they will need to win Conference USA and likely remain undefeated throughout the 2024 season.
Here’s a look at the Liberty coaching staff:
Head Coach, Jamey Chadwell
Chadwell, who took over as head coach on December 4, 2022, has already made a significant impact on Liberty’s football program. In his first year, he led the Flames to a remarkable 13-0 record and a Conference USA championship, culminating in a New Year’s Six bowl appearance against No. 8 Oregon at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
Prior to Liberty, Chadwell accumulated nearly 100 career wins with stints at North Greenville, Delta State, Charleston Southern, and Coastal Carolina. His tenure at Coastal Carolina was particularly notable for elevating the program in the FBS and Sun Belt Conference.
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach, Willy Korn
In his second season with Liberty, Korn plays a key role in shaping the Flames’ offense. He joined Liberty after a successful six-year run at Coastal Carolina, where he was instrumental in the team’s significant improvement and high-powered offense. Korn also spent time at Charleston Southern as a wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Coach, Newland Isaac
Isaac, who is also in his second year at Liberty, came from Coastal Carolina, where he was recognized as the 2021 AFCA FBS Assistant Coach of the Year. His tenure at Coastal Carolina was marked by a top-ranked rushing attack and effective third-down conversions. Isaac has worked with Chadwell for eight seasons across several programs.
Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach, Tony Washington
Washington rejoined Chadwell’s staff in 2023 after a season with West Virginia. He previously contributed to Coastal Carolina’s success during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. With a background that includes a notable college career and professional experience in the NFL, Washington brings valuable insight and expertise to the team.
Offensive Line Coach, Bill Durkin
Durkin, who has over 20 years of coaching experience, is in his second season with Liberty. His extensive career includes roles at Coastal Carolina, Bowling Green, Hofstra, Richmond, and his alma mater, UMass. Durkin’s background as a standout player and professional experience enhances his coaching credentials.
Tight Ends Coach, Cody Ladutko
Ladutko, who has been with Chadwell for five years, continues to work with the tight ends at Liberty. Promoted to tight ends coach in 2022, Ladutko’s previous roles included offensive analyst and graduate assistant, primarily focusing on tight ends during his time at Coastal Carolina.
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach, Skylor Magee
Magee, beginning his second season at Liberty, has a long history of working with Chadwell at previous programs. His experience includes four seasons at Coastal Carolina and earlier roles at Charleston Southern, Delta State, and North Greenville.
Safeties Coach, Aaron Fierbaugh
Fierbaugh joined Liberty in January 2023 and is entering his second season. His previous experience includes coaching inside linebackers at Coastal Carolina and working as a defensive analyst for the Chanticleers.
Before joining Coastal Carolina, Fierbaugh spent five years at the University of South Carolina as a defensive quality control assistant from 2016 to 2021. His coaching career began at Auburn, where he served as a student assistant from 2013 to 2016.
Fierbaugh’s varied experience across these programs has provided him with a strong foundation as he continues to contribute to Liberty’s defensive coaching team.
Linebackers Coach, Josh Linam
Josh Linam, now in his second year at Liberty as the linebackers coach, brings a wealth of coaching experience to the role.
Prior to Liberty, Linam worked as a defensive analyst at Auburn during the spring of 2023. He also spent two seasons as a defensive analyst at Temple. Linam’s coaching career includes a stint as a defensive graduate assistant at Florida in 2016, where he helped the Gators achieve a 9-4 record, including a 6-2 mark in the SEC, and secured a convincing 30-3 win over Iowa in the Outback Bowl.
Earlier in his career, Linam was a graduate assistant at his alma mater, UCF, in 2015 and served as the linebackers coach at Division III Huntingdon College in 2014.
Cornerbacks Coach, Dino Waites
Dino Waites joined Liberty in 2023 following a successful tenure as the safeties coach at VMI during the 2022 season. Prior to VMI, Waites was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Albany State in Georgia.
Waites started his coaching career at his alma mater, Carson-Newman, where he was on staff for eight years from 2013 to 2020. Initially working with the wide receivers, he later focused on coaching the secondary and also served as the special teams coordinator. In 2013, Waites was recognized as the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with Carson-Newman’s defensive backs and special teams.
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator, Kyle Krantz
Kyle Krantz, in his second season at Liberty, brings extensive Power Five coaching experience, having worked for 12 seasons across five different SEC programs.
His most recent role was as a special teams analyst at Missouri before he joined Liberty. Krantz also spent five seasons at South Carolina, where he became the special teams coordinator in 2020. His deep background in the SEC provides him with valuable knowledge and expertise for his role at Liberty.