CHS Head Football Coach Chandler Tygard has filled two key positions for the upcoming football season by hiring Tyler Manes as Defensive Coordinator and Gerald Riggs Jr. as an Assistant Coach.
Tyler Manes comes to the Blue Raiders as the defensive coordinator, coming off a state championship with Tyner Academy.
“Coach Manes, while new to Chattanooga, is a national figure in the coaching community, especially after his defense at Tyner paved the way for their first state championship since 1997,” Tygard said.
The 2022 Tyner defense broke the school's shutout record (7) and total defense record, only giving up an average of 6 points per game en route to their 14-1 season, finishing with the #3 ranked defense in the state for all classifications. Prior to Tyner, Coach Manes was the defensive coordinator at Southwest Florida Christian Academy in Fort Myers, Florida. Coach Manes is a national clinic speaker and is a writer for the CBS Cleveland Browns affiliate, the 'Orange and Brown Report'. A small-business owner, he owns and operates Valley Pest Control in Chattanooga.
Gerald Riggs Jr. joins the staff at Cleveland High School as the running backs coach and player development coordinator. Coach Riggs previously worked alongside Coach Chandler Tygard at Notre Dame - Chattanooga and North Jackson (AL).
“Having worked with Coach Riggs in the past, he is a tremendous resource for our young men at Cleveland with ambitions of playing in the Southeastern Conference or the National Football League, as he not only played at that level as a player but has trained numerous high school prospects who have done the same,” Tygard said.
Coach Riggs also had previous stops as an assistant coach at Signal Mountain and served as the head of strength and conditioning and player performance for Bradley County's girl's basketball. He was a three-year starter at running back for the Tennessee Volunteers and was an all-conference player in 2004. A Chattanooga prep legend, Riggs was a three-time all-state at Red Bank, a two-time all-American, and a two-time Mr. Football winner. He was also named the 2002 Bobby Dodd National Player of the Year. Coach Riggs spent time in the National Football League with the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears and was a 2012 Grey Cup Champion in the Canadian Football League. Coach Riggs is a renowned athletic trainer, having assisted numerous area players in signing scholarships, such as Notre Dame's Patrick Johnson (Tulane/ Philadelphia Eagles). He will work with the Cleveland Youth Football League and the high school program.
“As we continue to build our coaching staff for the 2023 season, I could not be more excited to add these coaches to our family,” Tygard said.
We’re excited to welcome Coach Manes and Coach Riggs to Cleveland!