Three Iowa City area football programs have hit a much-needed refresh entering the 2024 Iowa high school football season.
Two of those teams missed the IHSAA football postseason with losing records last season, but a fresh coaching perspective could flip the script during the 2024 campaign.
With the Iowa high school football season kicking off on Aug. 29, here’s everything you need to know about the three new head football coaches in the Iowa City area.
Schools are listed in alphabetical order:Â
Clear Creek Amana: Lance Pedersen
Pederson brings over three decades of coaching experience to CCA football, which includes six postseason appearances in 10 seasons with Mount Vernon from 2014-2023. He compiled a 79-29 record with the Mustangs and led the program to a pair of Class 3A state title game appearances (2015, 2022) during his tenure. Pedersen is coming off a 2023 season where he led the 9-2 Mustangs to the Class 3A state quarterfinals. After being hired in March, he will lead a CCA football program that hasn’t reached the postseason since 2021. The Clippers finished with a 3-6 record last season under former head coach Matt Haddy.
Chandler’s name is a recognizable one in Iowa City. Before spending six seasons in the NFL, the Bedford, TX native was a tight end for the University of Iowa under head coach Kirk Ferentz from 2004-2006. In May, Chandler was promoted from offensive coordinator—a position he served in from 2022-2023— to head football coach. He replaces James Harris, who spent three seasons at the helm. Chandler will take over a Class 5A Liberty team that posted a 4-5 record last season. The Lightning have two playoff appearances on their resume (2019, 2022).
Regina Catholic: Dustin Elsbury
Following the retirement of Jason Dumont last year, Elsbury was hired last December as the head coach for Regina football; a program that’s reached postseason play in 19 of the last 20 seasons with eight state titles in that stretch. Elsbury is no stranger to Regina football. He was a member of Regina’s coaching staff and worked with multiple position groups, including the offensive line, defensive line and linebackers. Before Regina, Elsbury was an assistant coach for Coe College, his alma mater.
Marc Ray is the high school sports reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He can be reached at MARay@gannett.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: IHSAA football: Every new Iowa City-area high school coach for 2024
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