Chapa Named Head Football Coach
FOREST CITY, IA – Waldorf University named Tyler Chapa its Head Football Coach Monday morning, concluding his brief tenure as Interim Head Coach. Waldorf Director of Athletics Chad Gassman made the announcement to the football coaching staff Monday morning in Forest City.
"Tyler Chapa is an exceptional football coach and has been one for us since 2019," Gassman said. "Today's announcement is an outward sign of my belief that Tyler Chapa is head coach material and earned that rank at Waldorf University. He has proven that to me every day since he was given the enormous task of Interim Head Coach on June 8th."
"Coach Chapa has been a tremendous asset to Waldorf University and the Forest City community over the last five years," said Waldorf University President Robert A. Alsop. "He has proven himself to be a true leader who we feel will take the Waldorf Football program to the next level."
Chapa becomes the fifth head coach in the four-year history of the storied Waldorf Football program. Like preceding head coach Will Finley, Chapa first served at Waldorf as an assistant coach before assuming the top spot. Both Finley and Chapa served as assistant coaches under former head coach Josh Littrell.
"Coach Chapa is a man of high character who is going to pour into his players," said Finley, who is now an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Lindenwood. "He will use this experience and passion to move Waldorf forward into a new conference."
"I am extremely proud to be named head football coach of this program," Chapa said. "Waldorf University and the Forest City community have been a big part of my life these past five years. My wife and I are extremely excited for this journey, and look forward to building on what we have done over the years. The university and community have given us a ton of support through this transition and we cannot thank them enough."
The Waldorf Football program executed a turnaround of epic proportion beginning under Littrell in the 2017 season. In all 14 prior seasons as a four-year program, the Warriors had three wins or fewer, going a combined 23-119 (.162). In the seven seasons since, the Warriors have not had a single losing season, with winning seasons in four straight campaigns and five of the last six. From 2017 to present, Waldorf has a cumulative record of 43-23 (.651). Football is the winningest Waldorf athletic team sport by percentage over that span.
"This decision is not the result of any one game, or of our win/loss record so far this season," Gassman said. "Coach Chapa has shown competence and skill in every facet of running a small college football program. This comes as no surprise. Coach Chapa has been a big part of something truly incredible in the Waldorf Football program these past five years, and he is most deserving of this title and this opportunity."
Chapa is a 2017 graduate of fellow Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) member Doane University, following a playing career at both Doane and Abilene Christian University. He got his start in coaching with two seasons on staff at his alma mater.
Chapa joined the Waldorf football staff in the fall of 2019 as the Warriors' defensive backs coach. He added recruiting coordinator and special teams duties for the 2022 season. His five seasons of service are the most of any one coach during the program's seven-year renaissance.
The native of San Antonio, Texas resides in Forest City with his wife, Nicole.