Dwayne Chandler was named SMU's assistant head strength & conditioning coach in January 2022. Chandler came to the Hilltop after four seasons at Virginia, where he helped the Cavaliers to three bowl appearances, including the 2018 Belk Bowl Championship, and the ACC Coastal Division title in 2019.
Prior to his time in Charlottesville, Chandler spent a season as the head S&C coach at Georgia Southern, and before that he was the associate director of athletic performance at Memphis (2014-16). In year one with Memphis, he helped the Tigers to an American Athletic Conference Championship. In 2015, Memphis equaled a school record for victories, going 10-3, capped off by a win over BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl.
Chandler arrived in Memphis after spending the 2012-13 seasons as the assistant athletic director for sports enhancement at UAB, where he oversaw strength and conditioning efforts with direct oversight of the Blazers' football performance programs. Prior to that, he was on staff at his alma mater, Oklahoma, from 2009-11, and was an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Denver Broncos during the 2007 and 2008 seasons where he worked with Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Champ Bailey.
Before moving to the NFL, Chandler was on staff at Minnesota (2001-06) starting as a strength and conditioning and speed coach before being elevated to co-head strength and conditioning coach in 2003. In 2004, he was named head strength and conditioning coach. While with the Gophers, he mentored 12 NFL Draft picks, including 2006 first rounder Laurence Maroney and 2005 fourth-round selection Marion Barber III. Chandler's efforts also helped Minnesota to bowl games in each of his last five seasons.
Prior to his time in the Twin Cities, he spent a season with the Dallas Cowboys as a strength and conditioning intern.
Chandler is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. He is also USA Weightlifting Certified.
He was a four-year letterwinner (1992-96) at fullback and led the Oklahoma in touchdowns (12) in 1993. He earned his bachelor's degree in communication/sociology from Oklahoma in 2000.
Chandler is married to wife, Susan. The couple resides in Allen with their daughter, Satin. He is also the father of Dwayne Harris, Jr.
