Chandler Tygard is entering his first season with the Patriot staff and will serve as the Defensive Line Coach as well as helping with the Special Teams.

Coach Tygard comes from the University of Tennessee where he worked as a Defensive Student Assistant for three years, then becoming a Defensive Quality Control Coach with the Volunteers for three more seasons. 

"The University of the Cumberlands has an incredible campus with a close knit family community," said Tygard. "UC offers a great college experience with Christian values while giving the opportunity to play extremely competitive college football. The buildings on campus really impressed me on my first visit to Williamsburg and the people made it an easy decision to become a Patriot."

While at Tennessee, Coach Tygard was able to work for some of the best Defensive Coordinators in the NCAA.  In 2008, he worked for a defense that ranked 11^th in the country in total defense.  He was also able to coach many special players.  Five players on the defensive side of the ball played in the NFL in Coach Tygard's tenure.  He was also able to coach the first two freshmen linebackers to ever start for the University of Tennessee, who were both chosen 1^st team Freshmen All-SEC. 

Tygard said about coaching, "The best thing about coaching is working with the players every day, teaching them about football and life skills. It is the best feeling to teach someone how to become a better player and see it pay off on the field thru their hard work and dedication."

Chandler hails from Nashville, TN and was a graduate from Montgomery Bell Academy.  He is a 2009 graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in History. 

Tennessee counties: Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Clay, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, Dekalb, Dickson, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Grundy, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Vanburen, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson, and Wilson.