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{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1966)}}
{{Infobox college coach
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
| name = Randy Shannon
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image = Randy_Shannon_70723.jpg
| name = Randy Shannon
| caption =
| image = Randy_Shannon_70723.jpg
| current_title = Head Coach
| image_size =
| sport = ]
| alt =
| current_team = University of Tennessee
| caption = Shannon in 2007
| current_conference =
| number = <!-- 94 -->
| current_record =
| current_team =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|2|24}}
| position =
| birth_place = ]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|2|24|mf=y}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_place =
| death_date =
| player_years = 1985–1988<br>1989–1990
| death_place =
| player_teams = ]<br>]
| height_ft = 6
| player_positions = ]
| height_in = 0
| coach_years = 1991<br />1992<br />1993–1997<br />1998–1999<br />2000<br />2001–2005<br />2006<br />2007–2010 /
| weight_lb = 221
| coach_teams = ] (])<br />] (DL)<br />] (LB)<br />] (assistant)<br />] (LB)<br />] (])<br />] (DC/LB)</small><br />]
| high_school = ] <br> (])
| overall_record = 28–22
| college = ] (1984–1988)
| contract =
| bowl_record = 0–2 | draftyear = 1989
| tournament_record = | draftround = 11
| CFbDWID = 4234 | draftpick = 280
| championships = | pastteams =
* ] ({{NFL Year|1989}}–{{NFL Year|1990}})
| awards = ] (2001)
| coaching_records = | pastcoaching =
* ] (1991) <br> Graduate assistant
| CFBHOF_year =
* Miami (FL) (1992) <br> Defensive line coach
| CFBHOF_id =
* Miami (FL) (1993–1997) <br> Linebackers coach
| BASKHOF_year =
* ] ({{NFL Year|1998}}–{{NFL Year|1999}}) <br> Defensive assistant
* Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2000}}) <br> Linebackers coach
* Miami (FL) (2001–2005) <br> Defensive coordinator
* Miami (FL) (2006) <br> Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
* Miami (FL) (2007–2010) <br> Head coach
* ] (2012) <br> Linebackers coach
* ] (2013–2014) <br> Linebackers coach
* ] (2015–2016) <br> Associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
* Florida (2017) <br> Defensive coordinator
* Florida (2017) <br> Interim head coach
* ] (2018–2020) <br> Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
* ] (2021) <br> Senior defensive analyst
* Florida State (2022–2024) <br> Co-defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
* Florida State (2024) <br> interim defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
| status =
| highlights =
;As player
* ] (])
;As coach
* 2× ] (], ])
* ] (2001)
| statleague =
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 17
| regular_record = <!-- {{Winning percentage|ww|ll|tt|record=y}} -->
| playoff_record = <!-- {{Winning percentage|ww|ll|tt|record=y}} -->
| overall_record = NCAA: {{Winning percentage|29|25|record=y}}
| pfr = ShanRa20
}} }}

'''Randy Lennard Shannon''' (born February 24, 1966) He served as the head football coach at the ] from 2007 to 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16189333.htm|title=UM chooses Shannon as head football coach|author=Susan Maller Degnan et al.|publisher=]|date=2006-12-07|accessdate=2006-12-07}}</ref> Shannon played football at Miami and then with the ] of the ].
'''Randy Leonard Shannon''' (born February 24, 1966) is an ] coach and former player. He is the co-] and ]s coach for ], positions he has held since 2022. Shannon was the head coach at the ] from 2007 to 2010 and has served as an assistant coach for the ] (NFL)'s ] and several college teams, including stints as the ] for the Miami Hurricanes, the ], and the ]. He won the ] as the nation's top collegiate assistant coach while at Miami in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16189333.htm|title=UM chooses Shannon as head football coach|author=Susan Miller Degnan|publisher=]|date=December 7, 2006|access-date=December 7, 2006|display-authors=etal|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061213153410/http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16189333.htm|archive-date=December 13, 2006}}</ref>

Shannon was born and raised in the ] neighborhood of ]. As a football player, he played ] for the Miami Hurricanes from 1985 to 1988 followed by two seasons in the NFL with the ], all under head coach ].


==Early life== ==Early life==
Shannon was born in ], and grew up in the ] neighborhood.<ref name=wine12092006>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/09/AR2006120900448.html|title=Shannon: 'Hard Times' to 'Canes Coach|first=Steve|last=Wine|date=December 9, 2006|work=The Washington Post|access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref> When he was 3 years old, his father was murdered. His older twin brothers, who became addicted to crack cocaine when Shannon was 10, both died of AIDS, as did his older sister.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2009/09/23/shannon|title=Miami coach Randy Shannon brings real life experience to Hurricanes|first=David|last=Hyde|date=September 23, 2009|work=Sports Illustrated|access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref>
When Shannon was three years old, his father was murdered. At 10, his older twin brothers became addicted to crack cocaine. His brothers and older sister died of AIDS.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/dave_hyde/09/23/shannon/index.html?eref=sihp|title=Miami coach Randy Shannon brings real life experience to Hurricanes|accessdate=2009-10-16|first=David|last=Hyde|date=September 23, 2009 | work=CNN}}</ref> Shannon attended ] and earned all-state and honorable mention All-America recognition from Street & Smith's as a senior linebacker at Norland. Shannon also competed in basketball, averaging 19 points a game, and competed in the triple jump on the track and field team.<ref>. Hurricanesports.cstv.com. Retrieved on 2012-01-03.</ref>


Shannon attended ], where he earned All-state honors playing football as a ] in his senior year. He also played ], averaging 19 points a game, and was a member of the ] team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/shannon_randy00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827091849/http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/shannon_randy00.html |title=Randy Shannon: Profile|access-date=February 19, 2013|archive-date=August 27, 2009|publisher=HurricaneSports.com}}</ref>
He played ] for the ], starting at outside linebacker for the ]. After graduating in 1988, Shannon played briefly as a linebacker for the ].


==Coaching career== ==College career==
===Early years===
Shannon was first hired by Miami coach ] in 1991 to be a ]. He later became the team's ] coach and linebackers coach. Shannon worked as linebackers coach for the ] in 2000 and as a defensive assistant in 1998 and 1999.


Shannon received a football scholarship to attend the ] in Coral Gables, Florida, where he played for head coach ]'s ] team from 1985 to 1988.
In 2001, Miami coach ] hired Shannon to be the defensive coordinator. That year Shannon received the ] given annually to the best assistant coach in college football.

He was converted into an ] as a ] freshman. The next year as a backup, he tallied 82 tackles (fifth on the team), including 13 against the ] that was led by ] ].

As a junior, he was named the starter at ] and was considered a coach on the field. In the first game, he returned an interception 41 yards for a ] against the ]. He had 13 tackles against the ] and ]. He compiled 87 tackles (4 for loss), while helping the team win the ].

As a senior, he was a part of a squad that ranked second in the nation in total defense. He had a career-high 14 tackles against the ]. He registered 83 tackles (fourth on the team), 8 tackles for loss (fourth on the team), 5 sacks (fourth on the team), 8 passes defensed (first on the team) and 3 forced fumbles (first on the team) and was included on several ] lists as an honorable mention.

He graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in 1988; he was the first member of his family to earn a college degree.<ref name=wine12092006/> Of the 25 games he started in his career, the Hurricanes won 24.

== Professional career ==
Shannon did not have the prototypical size of an NFL linebacker and wasn't picked in the ] until the eleventh round (280th overall pick) by the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1989 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1989/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> The Cowboys were led by his former Hurricanes coach, Jimmy Johnson, who had accepted the NFL job after Shannon's senior season and had been charged with rebuilding a depleted Cowboys roster.

Shannon surprised some observers by making the team despite being a low round pick. He was named a starter in the third game of the season against the ], becoming the first Cowboys rookie to start at ] since ] did it in ]. In his 4 starts he made 38 tackles (including 11 both against the Redskins and the ]). He also was second on the team with 14 ] tackles and played in all three linebacker spots, including ] on passing downs. He finished the season with 50 tackles, 3 quarterback pressures, one pass defensed and one forced fumble.

The Cowboys continued to develop their roster in the offseason and Shannon was cut at the end of the preseason in ]. He returned to the Cowboys and appeared in a few games in September but was released on October 1, concluding his professional playing career.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/04/sports/transactions-712490.html?pagewanted=all|title=Transactions|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> During his time in the league, Jimmy Johnson credited Shannon with teaching his "bigger, faster linebackers how to play the position."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2007/09/10/100264147/hiding-in-plain-sight|title=Hiding in Plain Sight|access-date=April 30, 2018|first=Gary|last=Smith |date=September 4, 2007|work=CNNSI}}</ref> During his NFL career, Shannon played in 17 regular season games during the 1989 and 1990 seasons, starting four of them.<ref name=pfrprofile>Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, . Retrieved January 7, 2015.</ref>

== Coaching career ==
=== Assistant coach ===
Miami Hurricanes head coach ] hired Shannon in 1991 to be a ] at his alma mater. He was promoted to ] coach the following year and spent the next several seasons coaching defensive line and linebackers at the school. In 1998, Shannon was hired as a defensive assistant by the NFL's ], and he was promoted to be the Dolphin's linebackers coach in 2000.

In 2001, Miami Hurricanes head coach ] hired Shannon to be the Canes' defensive coordinator. That year Miami won the BCS National Championship, and Shannon received the ] recognizing him as the best assistant coach in college football. The Hurricanes' ] is widely considered to be one of the greatest college football teams of all time.

Shannon remained the Hurricanes defensive coordinator for six seasons, and his defenses consistently finished among the best in the nation:


During Shannon's six years as UM's defensive coordinator, his defenses ranked as follows in total defense nationally:
*] – 6th *] – 6th
*] – 7th *] – 7th
Line 50: Line 103:
*] – 7th *] – 7th


==University of Miami head coach== === Miami Hurricanes head coach ===

Shannon was officially introduced as the head coach of Miami on December 8, 2006, replacing ] in the position. Shannon reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth over $4 million. He was the sixth black head coach at the time in Division I-A NCAA football, the others being ] (]), ] (]), ] (]), ] (]), and ] (]). Coker stayed on to coach the team to a 21–20 ] victory over the ]; Shannon assumed all other functions, including recruiting, immediately upon his hiring.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690489 |title=Defensive coordinator Shannon new Miami Coach |author=The Associated Press, Mark Schlabach & Joe Schad |publisher=] |date=2006-12-07 |accessdate=2006-12-07}}</ref>
Shannon was introduced as the head coach of Miami on December 8, 2006, replacing ]. Shannon reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth over $4 million. He was the sixth African-American head coach at the time in Division I-A NCAA football.<ref>The others being ] (]), ] (]), ] (]), ] (]), and ] (]).</ref> Coker stayed on to coach the team to a 21–20 ] victory over the ]; Shannon assumed all other functions, including recruiting, immediately upon his hiring.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2690489 |title=Defensive coordinator Shannon new Miami Coach |agency=The Associated Press, Mark Schlabach & Joe Schad |work=] |date=December 7, 2006 |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref>


===2007 season=== ==== 2007 season ====
{{Main|2007 Miami Hurricanes football team}} {{Main|2007 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
Shannon's first decision as head coach was to remove the players' surnames from their jerseys. This led '']'' to jokingly refer to the team as a "no name offense, no name defense." Fans found the decision made the game more difficult to follow.<ref>"A No Name Offense and Defense," ''The Miami Herald'', July 24, 2007, page 3D.</ref>


Shannon's first decision as head coach was to remove the players' surnames from their jerseys, in order to emphasize the team over individual members. Some fans complained the decision made the game more difficult to follow.<ref>"A No Name Offense and Defense," ''The Miami Herald'', July 24, 2007, page 3D.</ref> He also instituted a strict code of conduct for the program, a response to the frequent on-field and off-field misconduct that characterized Coker's latter tenure. Among other things, anyone caught with a gun would not only be kicked off the team, but also be thrown out of school as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2947370|title=Schlabach: Shannon issues tougher rules for Canes|date=July 24, 2007|website=ESPN.com|access-date=July 25, 2020}}</ref>
The season opened with a victory over Marshall in his first game as head coach. The second game was a 51–13 loss to the ].


Miami did defeat then-20th ranked ] in the third game, but then collapsed, losing to unranked ] and, in the Orange Bowl, to unranked ] and ]. One highlight was Miami's fourth quarter comeback against rival ]. However, this was offset by the team's embarrassing final appearance ever at the Orange Bowl in which Miami suffered a 48–0 loss against 21st ], the worst loss for the program in the history of its play at the Orange Bowl and the worst overall loss since the 1998 'Canes loss at Syracuse (66–13). The season opened with a victory over ] in his first game as head coach. The second game was a 51–13 loss to No. 6 ]. Miami rebounded by defeating Florida International, Duke, and then-16th ranked ], but then lost close games to unranked ], ] and ]. One highlight was Miami's fourth quarter comeback against rival ]. However, this was offset by a 48–0 loss against No. 21 ] in the team's final appearance ever at the Orange Bowl, the worst loss for the program in the history of its play at the Orange Bowl and the worst overall loss since 1998. Miami finished the season losing to No. 16 ] 28–14. Under Shannon, the team lost six out of their last seven games, finishing with a 5–6 record and failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in over a decade.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newschief.com/article/20080821/NEWS/808210360/1019/sports01&title=Shannon___Canes_seeking_quick_turnaround|title=Shannon, 'Canes seeking quick turnaround}}</ref> It was also the first time in 25 years that the Hurricanes had missed a bowl game while having a full complement of scholarships.


Two days after the season ended, one of Miami's former players, ], was shot in his home in Miami. Shannon expressed frustration over the media's handling of such incidents, stating that the coverage made Miami look like a haven for crime.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2007/11/shannon-exclusi.html|title=Shannon exclusive (part I)|access-date=April 30, 2018|date=November 28, 2007|publisher=]}}</ref>
Miami finished the season losing to ] 28–14. Under Shannon, the team lost 6 out of their 7 last games, finishing with a losing record and failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in over a decade.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newschief.com/article/20080821/NEWS/808210360/1019/sports01&title=Shannon___Canes_seeking_quick_turnaround|title=Shannon, 'Canes seeking quick turnaround}}</ref>


==== 2008 season ====
Two days after the season ended, one of Miami's former players, ], was shot in his home in Miami. Shannon expressed frustration over the media's handling of such incidents, alleging that the coverage made it appear as though the University of Miami is a haven for crime.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/umiami/2007/11/shannon-exclusi.html|title=Shannon exclusive (part I)|accessdate=2007-11-28|date=2007-11-28|publisher=]}}</ref>

===2008 season===
{{Main|2008 Miami Hurricanes football team}} {{Main|2008 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
Prior to the start of the 2008 season, Shannon was ranked dead last in a '']'' ranking of the 66 ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090104151817/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=398075|title=Ranking the BCS coaches: USC's Carroll second to none|accessdate=2008-08-06|date=April 10, 2008|publisher=]}}</ref>


Shannon's squad finished the 2008 season with a 7–6 record (–-4 ]) and a loss to ] in the ]. The regular season was highlighted by losses to in-state rivals ] and ], and a surprising victory over eventual-ACC Champion ]. Miami's loss to Florida, was its first in the rivalry since 1985 and snapped a six-game winning streak over the Gators. After the game, Shannon garnered national media attention when he implicitly accused Florida head coach ] of trying to run up the score late in the Gators' 26–3 win and suggested that it was an indictment of Meyer's character that should not go unnoticed by recruits.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2008-09-08-tebow-shannon_N.htm | work=USA Today | title=Florida's Tebow defends Meyer, tees off on Miami's Shannon | date=2008-09-08 | accessdate=2010-05-22 | first1=David | last1=Jones}}</ref> The 'Canes briefly returned to the ] for the first time since early in the ] before surrendering 472 rushing yards—and 518 yards of total offense—to unranked ] in a 41–23 late-November loss that eliminated Miami from ACC Championship contention.<ref name="georgiatech08">{{cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=283250059|title=Georgia Tech racks up 473 rushing yards, dampers No. 23 Miami's ACC title hopes|date=November 20, 2008|publisher=ESPN.com|accessdate=2009-02-19}}</ref> Tech's 472 yards on the ground were the second most ever allowed by Miami.<ref name="georgiatech08"/> The following week, the Hurricanes were defeated at ], 38–28, in the final game of the regular season. Shannon's squad finished the 2008 season with a 7–6 record (4-4 ]) and a loss to ] in the ]. The regular season was highlighted by losses to eventual National Champion ] and rival ], and a surprising victory over eventual ACC Champion ]. The 'Canes briefly returned to the ] for the first time since early in the ] before surrendering 472 rushing yards to ] in a 41–23 late-November loss that eliminated Miami from ACC Championship contention.<ref name="georgiatech08">{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/ncf/recap?gameId=283250059|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023173924/http://www.espn.com/ncf/recap?gameId=283250059|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 23, 2017|title=Georgia Tech racks up 473 rushing yards, dampers No. 23 Miami's ACC title hopes|date=November 20, 2008|work=ESPN.com|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> Tech's 472 yards on the ground were the second most ever allowed by Miami.<ref name="georgiatech08"/> Miami then received an invitation to the Emerald Bowl in ], where the Hurricanes fell 24–17 to Cal.


In the immediate aftermath of the bowl game, Shannon fired his offensive coordinator, ], over philosophical differences. Nix wanted to employ more of a ], whereas Shannon remained committed to Miami's traditional ]. Shannon eventually hired former ] and ] assistant coach ] for the position.
Miami then received an invitation to the Emerald Bowl in ], where the Hurricanes fell 24–17 to Cal. Shannon was widely criticized for the team's clock management in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20081230230151/http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8995402/Five-thoughts-on-Cal%27s-Emerald-Bowl-win|title=Five thoughts on Cal's Emerald Bowl win|date=December 28, 2008|publisher=FoxSports.com|accessdate=2009-02-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aolnews.com/2008/12/28/randy-shannons-clock-management-skills-could-use-a-little-impro/ |title=Randy Shannon's Clock Management Skills Could Use a Little Improvement – NCAAFB FanHouse |publisher=Ncaafootball.fanhouse.com |date=December 28, 2008 |accessdate=2010-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_college_hurricanes/2008/12/emerald-bowl-th.html|title=Emerald Bowl thoughts|last=Richardson|first=Shondell|date=December 28, 2008|publisher=Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=2009-02-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2008/12/29/1229umfoot.html|title=Miami Hurricanes fire offensive coordinator Patrick Nix|last=Milian|first=Jorge|date=December 29, 2008|publisher=Palm Beach Post|accessdate=2009-02-19}}</ref>


Nix's departure was followed by news that ], a redshirt-freshman quarterback who had been suspended from the bowl game for repeatedly missing class, asked for a release to transfer to another school.<ref>{{cite news|author=Joey Johnston|title=Drama-Filled Marve Saga at UM Comes to End'|publisher=]|date=December 31, 2008}}</ref> Marve cited a strained relationship with Shannon, who had previously suspended him after his arrest for criminal mischief, as his reason for leaving.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=3800390 | work=ESPN|title=Marve granted release from Hurricanes scholarship|date=December 30, 2008|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> Marve was the only Hurricanes player to be arrested during Shannon's tenure as head coach.<ref name="Murphy">{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2010/09/22/miami-hurricanes |title=Shannon leading Miami through renaissance on and off the field |first=Austin |last=Murphy |work=Sports Illustrated |date=September 22, 2010 |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref>
====Off-season turmoil====
In the immediate aftermath of the bowl game, Shannon fired his offensive coordinator, ], over philosophical differences. Nix wanted to employ more of a ], whereas Shannon remained committed to Miami's traditional ]. Shannon eventually hired former ] and ] assistant coach ] for the position.


Shannon's staff suffered more upheaval when ] Bill Young left to assume the same position at ], his alma mater, in late January. Young's departure made him the third coordinator to leave the program during Shannon's two seasons as head coach, joining Nix and former defensive coordinator Tim Walton, both of whom were fired. North Carolina assistant John Lovett was hired to replace Young in February.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/02/09/miami.ap/index.html?eref=sircrc |work=CNN |title=Canes choose Lovett as D.C. |date=February 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212000650/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/02/09/miami.ap/index.html?eref=sircrc |archive-date=February 12, 2009}}</ref>
Nix's departure was followed by news that ], a redshirt-freshman quarterback who started 11 of Miami's 13 games during the season, asked for a release to transfer to another school.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dc/31/sp-marve-saga-comes-to-end/sports-prepsports/|author=Joey Johnston|title=Drama-Filled Marve Saga at UM Comes to End'|publisher=]|accessdate=Dec. 31, 2008|date=Dec. 31, 2008}}</ref> Marve cited a strained relationship with Shannon as his reason for leaving. Shannon granted the request, but initially included broad restrictions blocking Marve from transferring to any school in the ACC, ], or state of ].<ref>] leaving Miami; 'Canes set tight transfer restrictions]</ref> After the conditions drew harsh criticism from Marve's father, ], and members of the media,<ref>{{cite web|last=Wetzel |first=Dan |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090106074603/http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=dw-marve010308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns |title=Block on Marve transfer out of bounds - College Football - Rivals.com |publisher=Rivals.yahoo.com |date=2010-11-24 |accessdate=2010-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3815468&sportCat=ncf |title=Gene Wojciechowski: Miami Hurricanes send warning signals with Robert Marve's treatment – ESPN |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=2009-01-07 |accessdate=2010-11-28}}</ref> Shannon softened his stance somewhat by dropping the blanket SEC prohibition and barring Marve from three SEC schools in particular: ], ], and ]. In defending the new restrictions, the athletic department alleged that Marve's camp initiated improper contact with the three schools during the season. After a hearing before the university's athletics appeals committee, Eugene Marve claimed that Shannon did not produce any evidence of the allegation and instead argued that allowing the banned transfers would hurt Miami in the "recruiting wars." Ultimately, the committee partially repealed the restrictions, permitting Marve to transfer in-state to either ] or ] but upholding the prohibitions on a transfer to Florida, LSU, or Tennessee.


==== 2009 season ====
On the heels of the Marve saga, wide receiver Jermaine McKenzie announced that he was transferring to ]. McKenzie became the fourth member of Shannon's first recruiting class to transfer out of the program during the off-season, joining Marve, and running back Shawnbrey McNeal.
{{Main|2009 Miami Hurricanes football team}}


Shannon's Hurricanes showed improvement in the 2009 season, in which the Canes finished with a record of 9–4. The Canes were the first college football team in nine years to face four consecutive ranked teams to start the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/acc/2009-09-03-miami-hurricanes-tough-start_N.htm|title=Miami begins season with four tough games|date=August 25, 2009|work=USA Today|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> They surpassed expectations by going 3–1 in those games, including wins over No. 19 ], No. 13 ], and No. 8 ]. The Hurricanes went 6–2 over the remainder of the regular season, then lost 20–14 against No. 22 ] in the Citrus Bowl. Miami finished the season ranked No. 19 in the country. It marked the second consecutive year that Shannon's team had shown a two-win improvement.
Shannon's staff suffered more upheaval when ] Bill Young left to assume the same position at ], his alma mater, in late January. Young's departure made him the third offensive or defensive coordinator to leave the program during Shannon's two seasons as head coach, joining Nix and former defensive coordinator Tim Walton, both of whom were fired. North Carolina assistant John Lovett was hired to replace Young in February.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090212000650/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/ncaa/02/09/miami.ap/index.html?eref=sircrc | work=CNN|title=Canes choose Lovett as D.C.|date=February 9, 2009}}</ref>


==== 2010 season ====
The off-season losses continued when freshmen backup quarterbacks Cannon Smith and Taylor Cook both asked to be released from their scholarships just before the start of the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4421972|title=Highsmith likely to be backup|date=2009-08-25|work=]|accessdate=2009-09-15}}</ref>
{{Main|2010 Miami Hurricanes football team}}


The Hurricanes started the year with high expectations, ranked 13th in the ] and ]. However, after winning three of their first four games, they were beaten at home by No. 24 ], 45–17. They went 4–3 over the rest of the regular season, with losses to ], No. 15 ] and ]. Though they were ranked in the top-25 until the final two games of the season, the season-ending loss to South Florida left them unranked heading into the Sun Bowl.
===2009 season===
{{Main|2009 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
Randy Shannon's Hurricanes did show improvement in the 2009 season, in which the Canes finished with a record of 9–4. The Canes started out the season with an impressive 3–1 record against a tough group of four ranked opponents. The Hurricanes did go on to drop two regular season games following the impressive start, and ended with a disappointing loss in their bowl against Wisconsin. Even with the four tough losses, Shannon's teams have shown an improvement of at least two wins per season every year he's been the head coach. Following Miami's improved finish in 2009, several preseason polls have Miami in the top twenty five for the first time since Shannon has been the head coach.


==== Off-the-field record ====
===Recruiting===
Though Shannon's teams have gone through some struggles on the field, he has brought in recruiting classes ranked in the top 25.<ref>. rivals100.rivals.com</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/columns/story?columnist=luginbill_tom&id=3233826 |title=Miami claims top 2008 recruiting class – insider – ESPN |publisher=Sports.espn.go.com |date=2009-06-01 |accessdate=2010-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2009 |title=Scout.com: Football Recruiting |publisher=Recruiting.scout.com |date=2009-12-05 |accessdate=2010-11-28}}</ref> Three members of his second recruiting class—], ], and ]—were recognized by '']'' as freshman All-Americans.<ref name="CFN">{{citation |last=Cirminiello |first=Richard |title=2008 CFN All-Freshman Defensive Team |url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/820615.html |date=December 11, 2008 |work=College Football News }}</ref>


Although he left Miami with an unremarkable win–loss record by the program's previous standards, Shannon still left a significant legacy at the program. He guided the school to the third-best ] in ]. In his four-year tenure at Miami, only a single player was arrested. Perhaps most significantly, he was apparently untainted by the ] that engulfed the program in the 2011 season, as he avoided contact with ], the rogue booster who admitted to providing massive amounts of improper benefits to Miami players from 2002 to 2010. '']'' writer ], in an August 2011 open letter to university president ], noted that Shannon "seems to have been the only person in Coral Gables who wanted nothing to do with Shapiro, reportedly warning his players to avoid him and threatening to fire assistants caught dealing with him."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2011/08/29/106102232/16-years-later-its-time-to-get-real |title=16 Years Later, It's Time To Get Real |first=Alexander |last=Wolff |work=Sports Illustrated |date=August 29, 2011 |access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref>
===2010 season===

{{Main|2010 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
Though Shannon's teams went through some struggles on the field, he consistently brought in recruiting classes ranked in the top 25.<ref>. rivals100.rivals.com</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/columns/story?columnist=luginbill_tom&id=3233826|title=Miami claims top 2008 recruiting class – insider |publisher=] |date=June 1, 2009 |access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref> Three members of his second recruiting class—], ] and Marcus Robinson—were recognized by '']'' as freshman All-Americans.<ref name="CFN">{{citation |last=Cirminiello |first=Richard |title=2008 CFN All-Freshman Defensive Team |url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/820615.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214070249/http://cfn.scout.com/2/820615.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 14, 2008 |date=December 11, 2008 |work=College Football News }}</ref>
The Hurricanes started the year with high expectations, ranked 13th in the ] and ]. However, after winning three of their first four games, they were humiliated at home by ], 45–17. Losses to ], ] and ] followed.

After the South Florida loss, the university announced its decision to terminate Shannon immediately.<ref name="Shannon fired">{{citation |title=Miami fires coach Randy Shannon |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=5858214&campaign=rss&source=ESPNUHeadlines |date=November 27, 2010 | work=ESPN | access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref> Offensive line coach ] served as interim head coach for the ], a 33–17 loss to Notre Dame.

=== TCU Horned Frogs linebackers coach ===

In July 2012, Shannon became the linebackers coach at TCU. Shannon participated in his first game as a member of the TCU coaching staff on September 8, 2012, a 56–0 victory over Grambling. As of October 2, TCU was undefeated and ranked 2nd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 7.3 points per game. They ranked 2nd in passing efficiency defense, 2nd in interceptions, 9th in rushing defense, and 7th in total yards allowed per game.

=== Arkansas Razorbacks linebackers coach ===

In December 2012, Shannon was hired by the new incoming Arkansas Razorbacks coach ] to be a part of his staff as a linebackers coach and be a major part of their recruiting efforts in south Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/arkansas-hires-former-miami-coach-randy-shannon-as-lbs-coach/|title=Arkansas hires former Miami coach Randy Shannon as LBs coach|access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkansasnews.com/sections/razorbacks/shannon-sees-chance-win-championships-arkansas.html|title=Shannon Sees 'Chance To Win Championships' At Arkansas|access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref> Shannon was promoted to associate head coach before the 2014 season.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Harper|first1=Doc|title=Reports: Randy Shannon Leaving Arkansas Razorbacks For Florida|url=https://www.arkansasfight.com/2014/12/31/7474279/reports-randy-shannon-leaving-arkansas-razorbacks-for-florida-gators-coaching-moves|website=arkansasfight.com|access-date=January 11, 2018}}</ref>

=== Florida Gators associate head coach / defensive coordinator ===
Shannon returned to his home state in January 2015 when he became the ]' associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under new head coach ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-florida/article5452125.html |title=Former UM coach Randy Shannon joins Florida Gators' new staff|publisher=The Miami Herald|last=Simonton|first=Jesse|date=January 5, 2015|access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref> McElwain stated that Shannon was at the top of his list for potential assistants, and media sports commentators opined that Shannon would be a significant recruiting asset for McElwain and the Gators, especially in south Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-gators/swamp-things-blog/os-gators-mcelwain-randy-shannon-assistant-coaches-20150107-post.html|title=Randy Shannon 'at the top of my list' when hiring Gators assistant coaches|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|last=Thompson|first=Edgar|date=January 7, 2015|access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref> With Shannon serving as the co-coordinator with ], the Florida defense was ranked in the top 20 in the nation in ] and fifth nationally in ].<ref>{{cite web|last1=University of Florida|title=2017 Florida Football Media Guide|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gatorzone.com/documents/2017/8/15/Media_Guide_Web.pdf|website=floridagators.com|access-date=January 11, 2018|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019170939/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/gatorzone.com/documents/2017/8/15/Media_Guide_Web.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Collins accepted the head coaching position at ] in December 2016, and Shannon was promoted to be Florida's full-time defensive coordinator for the ]. On October 29, 2017, he became Florida's interim head coach when Jim McElwain was fired eight games into the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://floridagators.com/news/2017/10/29/football-mcelwain-uaa-mutually-agree-to-part-ways.aspx|title=McElwain, UAA Mutually Agree to Part Ways|website=Florida Gators|access-date=January 11, 2018}}</ref> Shannon coached the Gators to a 1–3 record to finish the year, after which Florida hired ] to be the Gators' new head coach.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://floridagators.com/news/2017/11/26/university-of-florida-selects-dan-mullen-as-head-football-coach.aspx |title=University of Florida Selects Dan Mullen as Head Football Coach |publisher=] |date=November 26, 2017 |access-date=January 11, 2018}}</ref> Mullen brought in an entirely new coaching staff, and Shannon was not retained.

===UCF Knights defensive coordinator===
On December 5, 2017, Shannon was hired as the defensive coordinator for the ] (UCF).<ref name="UCF Hire">{{cite press release|title=Shannon's On Board - UCF|url=http://ucfknights.com/news/2017/12/5/football-shannons-on-board.aspx?path=football|website=UCF Athletics|date=December 5, 2017|access-date=June 16, 2018}}</ref> On January 27, 2021, after head coach ] left for the ], Shannon became the interim head coach for the Knights until the hiring of ], at which point Malzahn dismissed the previous staff to bring in coaches of his choice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murschel |first1=Matt |title=Gus Malzahn promises new UCF coaching staff will be good mentors, recruiters |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ucf-knights/os-sp-ucf-football-gus-malzahn-coaching-staff-20210216-fuj6wzpeyjgyvl3xu44n43t53m-story.html |access-date=April 5, 2021 |work=orlandosentinel.com |date=February 17, 2021}}</ref>


===FSU Co-defensive coordinator & linebackers coach===
====Firing====
In April 2021, Shannon was hired to be the senior defensive analyst for the ] team quickly helping as an assistant linebackers coach as well. On December 11, 2021, Shannon was named Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach.<ref name="FSUhire">{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Matt |title=FSU football adds former Miami Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon as analyst |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/seminoles/2021/04/05/fsu-adds-former-miami-coach-gators-assistant-randy-shannon-as-analyst/ |access-date=April 5, 2021 |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=April 5, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
After the South Florida loss, the university announced its decision to terminate Shannon immediately.<ref name="Shannon fired">{{citation |title=Miami fires coach Randy Shannon |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5858214&campaign=rss&source=ESPNUHeadlines |date=November 27, 2010 |work=ESPN.com }}</ref> On December 13, 2010, the University of Miami announced the hiring of his replacement, former ] head coach ].<ref>{{dead link|date=January 2012}}</ref>


==Head coaching record== ==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start|type=coach|conf=yes|bowl=yes|poll=both}} {{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = ] | name = ]
Line 112: Line 178:
| overall = 5–7 | overall = 5–7
| conference = 2–6 | conference = 2–6
| confstanding = 5th <small>(Coastal)<small> | confstanding = 5th <small>(Coastal)</small>
| bowlname = | bowlname =
| bowlopp =
| bowloutcome = | bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl = | bcsbowl =
Line 126: Line 191:
| overall = 7–6 | overall = 7–6
| conference = 4–4 | conference = 4–4
| confstanding = T–3rd <small>(Coastal)<small> | confstanding = T–3rd <small>(Coastal)</small>
| bowlname = ] | bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L | bowloutcome = L
Line 139: Line 204:
| overall = 9–4 | overall = 9–4
| conference = 5–3 | conference = 5–3
| confstanding = 3rd <small>(Coastal)<small> | confstanding = 3rd <small>(Coastal)</small>
| bowlname = ] | bowlname = ]
| bowloutcome = L | bowloutcome = L
Line 152: Line 217:
| overall = 7–5 | overall = 7–5
| conference = 5–3 | conference = 5–3
| confstanding = 2nd <small>(Coastal)<small> | confstanding = 2nd <small>(Coastal)</small>
| bowl = | bowlname = ]*
| bowloutcome =
| bowlname = ]*
| bcsbowl = | bcsbowl =
| ranking = | ranking =
Line 163: Line 228:
| overall = 28–22 | overall = 28–22
| confrecord = 16–16 | confrecord = 16–16
}} <small> *Shannon was fired from Miami before bowl game.<small> }} <small> *Shannon was fired from Miami before bowl game.</small>
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = ]
| conf = ]
| startyear = 2017
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = ]
| name = ]
| overall = 1–3*
| conference = 0–2
| confstanding = 5th <small>(Eastern)</small>
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Florida
| overall = 1–3
| confrecord = 0–2
}}<small> *Shannon was named Florida's interim head coach on Oct 29</small>
{{CFB Yearly Record End {{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 28–22 | overall = 29–25
| bcs = | bowls = no
| poll = two | poll = two
| polltype = | polltype =
| legend = no
}} }}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|2}} {{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *


{{Miami Hurricanes football coach navbox}} {{Miami Hurricanes football coach navbox}}
{{Florida Gators football coach navbox}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Randy Shannon – championships, awards and honors
| list1 =
{{Cowboys1989DraftPicks}}
{{Broyles Award}}
{{1987 Miami Hurricanes football navbox}} {{1987 Miami Hurricanes football navbox}}
{{1991 Miami Hurricanes football navbox}} {{1991 Miami Hurricanes football navbox}}
{{2001 Miami Hurricanes football navbox}} {{2001 Miami Hurricanes football navbox}}
{{Cowboys1989DraftPicks}}
}}
{{Broyles Award}}


{{Persondata
| NAME = Shannon, Randy
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American college football player, college football coach
| DATE OF BIRTH = February 24, 1966
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Miami, Florida, United States
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon, Randy}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon, Randy}}
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Latest revision as of 01:16, 15 December 2024

American football player and coach (born 1966)

American football player
Randy Shannon
refer to captionShannon in 2007
Personal information
Born: (1966-02-24) February 24, 1966 (age 58)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:221 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:Miami Norland
(Miami Gardens, Florida)
College:Miami (FL) (1984–1988)
NFL draft:1989 / round: 11 / pick: 280
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
  • Miami (FL) (1991)
    Graduate assistant
  • Miami (FL) (1992)
    Defensive line coach
  • Miami (FL) (1993–1997)
    Linebackers coach
  • Miami Dolphins (1998–1999)
    Defensive assistant
  • Miami Dolphins (2000)
    Linebackers coach
  • Miami (FL) (2001–2005)
    Defensive coordinator
  • Miami (FL) (2006)
    Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
  • Miami (FL) (2007–2010)
    Head coach
  • TCU (2012)
    Linebackers coach
  • Arkansas (2013–2014)
    Linebackers coach
  • Florida (2015–2016)
    Associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
  • Florida (2017)
    Defensive coordinator
  • Florida (2017)
    Interim head coach
  • UCF (2018–2020)
    Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
  • Florida State (2021)
    Senior defensive analyst
  • Florida State (2022–2024)
    Co-defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
  • Florida State (2024)
    interim defensive coordinator & linebackers coach
Career highlights and awards
As player
As coach
Career NFL statistics
Games played:17
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Head coaching record
Career:NCAA: 29–25 (.537)

Randy Leonard Shannon (born February 24, 1966) is an American football coach and former player. He is the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Florida State University, positions he has held since 2022. Shannon was the head coach at the University of Miami from 2007 to 2010 and has served as an assistant coach for the National Football League (NFL)'s Miami Dolphins and several college teams, including stints as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Hurricanes, the Florida Gators, and the UCF Knights. He won the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top collegiate assistant coach while at Miami in 2001.

Shannon was born and raised in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami, Florida. As a football player, he played linebacker for the Miami Hurricanes from 1985 to 1988 followed by two seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, all under head coach Jimmy Johnson.

Early life

Shannon was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up in the Liberty City neighborhood. When he was 3 years old, his father was murdered. His older twin brothers, who became addicted to crack cocaine when Shannon was 10, both died of AIDS, as did his older sister.

Shannon attended Miami Norland High School, where he earned All-state honors playing football as a defensive back in his senior year. He also played basketball, averaging 19 points a game, and was a member of the track team.

College career

Shannon received a football scholarship to attend the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where he played for head coach Jimmy Johnson's Miami Hurricanes football team from 1985 to 1988.

He was converted into an outside linebacker as a redshirt freshman. The next year as a backup, he tallied 82 tackles (fifth on the team), including 13 against the University of Pittsburgh that was led by running back Craig Heyward.

As a junior, he was named the starter at strongside linebacker and was considered a coach on the field. In the first game, he returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown against the University of Florida. He had 13 tackles against the University of Notre Dame and East Carolina University. He compiled 87 tackles (4 for loss), while helping the team win the 1987 national championship team.

As a senior, he was a part of a squad that ranked second in the nation in total defense. He had a career-high 14 tackles against the University of Michigan. He registered 83 tackles (fourth on the team), 8 tackles for loss (fourth on the team), 5 sacks (fourth on the team), 8 passes defensed (first on the team) and 3 forced fumbles (first on the team) and was included on several All-American lists as an honorable mention.

He graduated from the University of Miami with a bachelor's degree in 1988; he was the first member of his family to earn a college degree. Of the 25 games he started in his career, the Hurricanes won 24.

Professional career

Shannon did not have the prototypical size of an NFL linebacker and wasn't picked in the 1989 NFL draft until the eleventh round (280th overall pick) by the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys were led by his former Hurricanes coach, Jimmy Johnson, who had accepted the NFL job after Shannon's senior season and had been charged with rebuilding a depleted Cowboys roster.

Shannon surprised some observers by making the team despite being a low round pick. He was named a starter in the third game of the season against the Washington Redskins, becoming the first Cowboys rookie to start at outside linebacker since Dave Edwards did it in 1963. In his 4 starts he made 38 tackles (including 11 both against the Redskins and the Green Bay Packers). He also was second on the team with 14 special teams tackles and played in all three linebacker spots, including middle linebacker on passing downs. He finished the season with 50 tackles, 3 quarterback pressures, one pass defensed and one forced fumble.

The Cowboys continued to develop their roster in the offseason and Shannon was cut at the end of the preseason in 1990. He returned to the Cowboys and appeared in a few games in September but was released on October 1, concluding his professional playing career. During his time in the league, Jimmy Johnson credited Shannon with teaching his "bigger, faster linebackers how to play the position." During his NFL career, Shannon played in 17 regular season games during the 1989 and 1990 seasons, starting four of them.

Coaching career

Assistant coach

Miami Hurricanes head coach Dennis Erickson hired Shannon in 1991 to be a graduate assistant at his alma mater. He was promoted to defensive line coach the following year and spent the next several seasons coaching defensive line and linebackers at the school. In 1998, Shannon was hired as a defensive assistant by the NFL's Miami Dolphins, and he was promoted to be the Dolphin's linebackers coach in 2000.

In 2001, Miami Hurricanes head coach Larry Coker hired Shannon to be the Canes' defensive coordinator. That year Miami won the BCS National Championship, and Shannon received the Broyles Award recognizing him as the best assistant coach in college football. The Hurricanes' 2001 national championship team is widely considered to be one of the greatest college football teams of all time.

Shannon remained the Hurricanes defensive coordinator for six seasons, and his defenses consistently finished among the best in the nation:

Miami Hurricanes head coach

Shannon was introduced as the head coach of Miami on December 8, 2006, replacing Larry Coker. Shannon reportedly agreed to a four-year deal worth over $4 million. He was the sixth African-American head coach at the time in Division I-A NCAA football. Coker stayed on to coach the team to a 21–20 MPC Computers Bowl victory over the University of Nevada; Shannon assumed all other functions, including recruiting, immediately upon his hiring.

2007 season

Main article: 2007 Miami Hurricanes football team

Shannon's first decision as head coach was to remove the players' surnames from their jerseys, in order to emphasize the team over individual members. Some fans complained the decision made the game more difficult to follow. He also instituted a strict code of conduct for the program, a response to the frequent on-field and off-field misconduct that characterized Coker's latter tenure. Among other things, anyone caught with a gun would not only be kicked off the team, but also be thrown out of school as well.

The season opened with a victory over Marshall in his first game as head coach. The second game was a 51–13 loss to No. 6 University of Oklahoma. Miami rebounded by defeating Florida International, Duke, and then-16th ranked Texas A&M, but then lost close games to unranked North Carolina, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State. One highlight was Miami's fourth quarter comeback against rival Florida State. However, this was offset by a 48–0 loss against No. 21 University of Virginia in the team's final appearance ever at the Orange Bowl, the worst loss for the program in the history of its play at the Orange Bowl and the worst overall loss since 1998. Miami finished the season losing to No. 16 Boston College 28–14. Under Shannon, the team lost six out of their last seven games, finishing with a 5–6 record and failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in over a decade. It was also the first time in 25 years that the Hurricanes had missed a bowl game while having a full complement of scholarships.

Two days after the season ended, one of Miami's former players, Sean Taylor, was shot in his home in Miami. Shannon expressed frustration over the media's handling of such incidents, stating that the coverage made Miami look like a haven for crime.

2008 season

Main article: 2008 Miami Hurricanes football team

Shannon's squad finished the 2008 season with a 7–6 record (4-4 ACC) and a loss to Cal in the Emerald Bowl. The regular season was highlighted by losses to eventual National Champion Florida and rival Florida State, and a surprising victory over eventual ACC Champion Virginia Tech. The 'Canes briefly returned to the Top 25 rankings for the first time since early in the 2006 season before surrendering 472 rushing yards to Georgia Tech in a 41–23 late-November loss that eliminated Miami from ACC Championship contention. Tech's 472 yards on the ground were the second most ever allowed by Miami. Miami then received an invitation to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, where the Hurricanes fell 24–17 to Cal.

In the immediate aftermath of the bowl game, Shannon fired his offensive coordinator, Patrick Nix, over philosophical differences. Nix wanted to employ more of a spread attack, whereas Shannon remained committed to Miami's traditional pro style offense. Shannon eventually hired former Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles assistant coach Mark Whipple for the position.

Nix's departure was followed by news that Robert Marve, a redshirt-freshman quarterback who had been suspended from the bowl game for repeatedly missing class, asked for a release to transfer to another school. Marve cited a strained relationship with Shannon, who had previously suspended him after his arrest for criminal mischief, as his reason for leaving. Marve was the only Hurricanes player to be arrested during Shannon's tenure as head coach.

Shannon's staff suffered more upheaval when defensive coordinator Bill Young left to assume the same position at Oklahoma State, his alma mater, in late January. Young's departure made him the third coordinator to leave the program during Shannon's two seasons as head coach, joining Nix and former defensive coordinator Tim Walton, both of whom were fired. North Carolina assistant John Lovett was hired to replace Young in February.

2009 season

Main article: 2009 Miami Hurricanes football team

Shannon's Hurricanes showed improvement in the 2009 season, in which the Canes finished with a record of 9–4. The Canes were the first college football team in nine years to face four consecutive ranked teams to start the season. They surpassed expectations by going 3–1 in those games, including wins over No. 19 Florida State, No. 13 Georgia Tech, and No. 8 Oklahoma. The Hurricanes went 6–2 over the remainder of the regular season, then lost 20–14 against No. 22 Wisconsin in the Citrus Bowl. Miami finished the season ranked No. 19 in the country. It marked the second consecutive year that Shannon's team had shown a two-win improvement.

2010 season

Main article: 2010 Miami Hurricanes football team

The Hurricanes started the year with high expectations, ranked 13th in the Associated Press and Coaches Poll. However, after winning three of their first four games, they were beaten at home by No. 24 Florida State, 45–17. They went 4–3 over the rest of the regular season, with losses to Virginia, No. 15 Virginia Tech and South Florida. Though they were ranked in the top-25 until the final two games of the season, the season-ending loss to South Florida left them unranked heading into the Sun Bowl.

Off-the-field record

Although he left Miami with an unremarkable win–loss record by the program's previous standards, Shannon still left a significant legacy at the program. He guided the school to the third-best Academic Progress Rate in NCAA Division I FBS. In his four-year tenure at Miami, only a single player was arrested. Perhaps most significantly, he was apparently untainted by the scandal that engulfed the program in the 2011 season, as he avoided contact with Nevin Shapiro, the rogue booster who admitted to providing massive amounts of improper benefits to Miami players from 2002 to 2010. Sports Illustrated writer Alexander Wolff, in an August 2011 open letter to university president Donna Shalala, noted that Shannon "seems to have been the only person in Coral Gables who wanted nothing to do with Shapiro, reportedly warning his players to avoid him and threatening to fire assistants caught dealing with him."

Though Shannon's teams went through some struggles on the field, he consistently brought in recruiting classes ranked in the top 25. Three members of his second recruiting class—Marcus Forston, Sean Spence and Marcus Robinson—were recognized by College Football News as freshman All-Americans.

After the South Florida loss, the university announced its decision to terminate Shannon immediately. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland served as interim head coach for the Sun Bowl, a 33–17 loss to Notre Dame.

TCU Horned Frogs linebackers coach

In July 2012, Shannon became the linebackers coach at TCU. Shannon participated in his first game as a member of the TCU coaching staff on September 8, 2012, a 56–0 victory over Grambling. As of October 2, TCU was undefeated and ranked 2nd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 7.3 points per game. They ranked 2nd in passing efficiency defense, 2nd in interceptions, 9th in rushing defense, and 7th in total yards allowed per game.

Arkansas Razorbacks linebackers coach

In December 2012, Shannon was hired by the new incoming Arkansas Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema to be a part of his staff as a linebackers coach and be a major part of their recruiting efforts in south Florida. Shannon was promoted to associate head coach before the 2014 season.

Florida Gators associate head coach / defensive coordinator

Shannon returned to his home state in January 2015 when he became the Florida Gators' associate head coach, co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach under new head coach Jim McElwain. McElwain stated that Shannon was at the top of his list for potential assistants, and media sports commentators opined that Shannon would be a significant recruiting asset for McElwain and the Gators, especially in south Florida. With Shannon serving as the co-coordinator with Geoff Collins, the Florida defense was ranked in the top 20 in the nation in 2015 and fifth nationally in 2016.

Collins accepted the head coaching position at Temple in December 2016, and Shannon was promoted to be Florida's full-time defensive coordinator for the 2017 season. On October 29, 2017, he became Florida's interim head coach when Jim McElwain was fired eight games into the season. Shannon coached the Gators to a 1–3 record to finish the year, after which Florida hired Dan Mullen to be the Gators' new head coach. Mullen brought in an entirely new coaching staff, and Shannon was not retained.

UCF Knights defensive coordinator

On December 5, 2017, Shannon was hired as the defensive coordinator for the University of Central Florida (UCF). On January 27, 2021, after head coach Josh Heupel left for the Tennessee Volunteers, Shannon became the interim head coach for the Knights until the hiring of Gus Malzahn, at which point Malzahn dismissed the previous staff to bring in coaches of his choice.

FSU Co-defensive coordinator & linebackers coach

In April 2021, Shannon was hired to be the senior defensive analyst for the Florida State Seminoles football team quickly helping as an assistant linebackers coach as well. On December 11, 2021, Shannon was named Co-Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach.

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches AP
Miami Hurricanes (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2007–2010)
2007 Miami 5–7 2–6 5th (Coastal)
2008 Miami 7–6 4–4 T–3rd (Coastal) L Emerald
2009 Miami 9–4 5–3 3rd (Coastal) L Champs Sports 19 19
2010 Miami 7–5 5–3 2nd (Coastal) Sun*
Miami: 28–22 16–16 *Shannon was fired from Miami before bowl game.
Florida Gators (Southeastern Conference) (2017)
2017 Florida 1–3* 0–2 5th (Eastern)
Florida: 1–3 0–2 *Shannon was named Florida's interim head coach on Oct 29
Total: 29–25

References

  1. Susan Miller Degnan; et al. (December 7, 2006). "UM chooses Shannon as head football coach". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on December 13, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
  2. ^ Wine, Steve (December 9, 2006). "Shannon: 'Hard Times' to 'Canes Coach". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  3. Hyde, David (September 23, 2009). "Miami coach Randy Shannon brings real life experience to Hurricanes". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  4. "Randy Shannon: Profile". HurricaneSports.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  5. "1989 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  6. "Transactions". Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  7. Smith, Gary (September 4, 2007). "Hiding in Plain Sight". CNNSI. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  8. Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, Randy Shannon. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  9. The others being Sylvester Croom (Mississippi State), Karl Dorrell (UCLA), Tyrone Willingham (Washington), Ron Prince (KSU), and Turner Gill (Buffalo).
  10. "Defensive coordinator Shannon new Miami Coach". ESPN.com. The Associated Press, Mark Schlabach & Joe Schad. December 7, 2006. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  11. "A No Name Offense and Defense," The Miami Herald, July 24, 2007, page 3D.
  12. "Schlabach: Shannon issues tougher rules for Canes". ESPN.com. July 24, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  13. "Shannon, 'Canes seeking quick turnaround".
  14. "Shannon exclusive (part I)". Miami Herald. November 28, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Georgia Tech racks up 473 rushing yards, dampers No. 23 Miami's ACC title hopes". ESPN.com. November 20, 2008. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  16. Joey Johnston (December 31, 2008). "Drama-Filled Marve Saga at UM Comes to End'". Tampa Tribune.
  17. "Marve granted release from Hurricanes scholarship". ESPN. December 30, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  18. Murphy, Austin (September 22, 2010). "Shannon leading Miami through renaissance on and off the field". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  19. "Canes choose Lovett as D.C." CNN. February 9, 2009. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009.
  20. "Miami begins season with four tough games". USA Today. August 25, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  21. Wolff, Alexander (August 29, 2011). "16 Years Later, It's Time To Get Real". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  22. 2007 Team Ranking. rivals100.rivals.com
  23. "Miami claims top 2008 recruiting class – insider". ESPN. June 1, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  24. Cirminiello, Richard (December 11, 2008), "2008 CFN All-Freshman Defensive Team", College Football News, archived from the original on December 14, 2008
  25. "Miami fires coach Randy Shannon", ESPN, November 27, 2010, retrieved February 28, 2018
  26. "Arkansas hires former Miami coach Randy Shannon as LBs coach". Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  27. "Shannon Sees 'Chance To Win Championships' At Arkansas". Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  28. Harper, Doc. "Reports: Randy Shannon Leaving Arkansas Razorbacks For Florida". arkansasfight.com. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  29. Simonton, Jesse (January 5, 2015). "Former UM coach Randy Shannon joins Florida Gators' new staff". The Miami Herald. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  30. Thompson, Edgar (January 7, 2015). "Randy Shannon 'at the top of my list' when hiring Gators assistant coaches". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  31. University of Florida. "2017 Florida Football Media Guide" (PDF). floridagators.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  32. "McElwain, UAA Mutually Agree to Part Ways". Florida Gators. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  33. "University of Florida Selects Dan Mullen as Head Football Coach" (Press release). Florida Gators. November 26, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  34. "Shannon's On Board - UCF". UCF Athletics (Press release). December 5, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  35. Murschel, Matt (February 17, 2021). "Gus Malzahn promises new UCF coaching staff will be good mentors, recruiters". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  36. Baker, Matt (April 5, 2021). "FSU football adds former Miami Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon as analyst". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved April 5, 2021.

External links

Miami Hurricanes head football coaches

# denotes interim head coach

Florida Gators head football coaches

# denotes interim head coach

1987 Miami Hurricanes football—consensus national champions
1991 Miami Hurricanes football—AP national champions
2001 Miami Hurricanes football—consensus national champions
Dallas Cowboys 1989 NFL draft selections
Broyles Award winners
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