Coach Izaiah Williams speaks to his special teams unit prior to kickoff at George Fox.

Coach Izaiah Williams comes to the Panthers with more than a decade’s worth of coaching experience. At Chapman University, he works with the running backs and handles some special teams duties. He also is an Assistant Athletic Director. Here, he discusses more about his first year coaching and working at Chapman.

How long have you been working at Chapman/how did you get here? 

“I was officially hired August 1 of 2022. Prior to Chapman I was the Director of Football Operations/Player Development Coordinator/Pro Liaison at New Mexico State. I was made aware of this position through Coach [Bob] Owens. He was my coach in college and has been a mentor to me since I got into coaching.”

What’s your favorite story from your first year at Chapman?

“Probably the Redlands game. With all the lightning delays and stops and re-starts, it was awesome to see how our guys embraced the situation and remained positive through the night as we inched closer to midnight. It was a fun win.”

What’s the best part about working with student-athletes at Chapman?

“The best part of working with Chapman students is getting to know each student individually. Because Chapman University is strong in the Arts and STEM fields and even Business, the student body is an eclectic mix of personalities where I enjoy listening to their perspectives and learning more about their stories.”

What has been your experience thus far with other Chapman coaches/administrators?

“Overall, the best experience has been working with all the other coaches and administrators in the Athletic department. There are a handful of coaches that have been at Chapman for 20+ years and have seen Chapman grow to where it is today. I simply enjoy listening to them talk about their experiences.”

Is there anything else you want to say to Chapman Athletics alumni?

“Yes! I can’t wait to meet and work with more of you. Chapman has a bright future and I believe we can accomplish something special.”

Chapman University’s football program begins its quest for another SCIAC championship at Pacific University on Saturday, September 2nd, with their home opener on Saturday, September 16th vs. Whitworth.