John Chandler to step down as AD at Coe, return to head athletic trainer

CEDAR RAPIDS — John Chandler is staying at Coe College. He's just going back to his original role.

The school announced Thursday that Chandler is stepping down after 16 years as athletics director to return to teaching and being Coe's head athletics trainer. That was the job he held for 13 years, from 1988 to 2001.

'I've always been committed to ensuring the health, safety and on-field performance of Kohawk student-athletes, as well as instructing athletic training students,' Chandler said in a press release from the school. 'This change in role will allow me to work even more closely with athletes and athletic training students on a daily basis.'

Coe won 40-plus Iowa Conference championships in Chandler's successful tenure as AD. He also oversaw more than $22 million in athletics facility improvements at the school, including most recently the renovation and expansion of Eby Fieldhouse.

'We thank John for his years of service as director of athletics and respect his decision to make a professional change,' said Larry Lee, Coe's Vice President of Facilities and Operations. 'We are very pleased that he will be continuing to play an important role in Kohawk athletics.'

Coe will soon begin a national search for a new director of athletics.

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