Shannon Dawson

Shannon Dawson

Current position
Title	Offensive coordinator
Team	Miami (FL)
Conference	ACC
Biographical details
Born	(1977-08-09) August 9, 1977 (age 47) Clinton, Louisiana, U.S.
Playing career
Position(s)	Quarterback/Wide receiver
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2002	Wingate (WR)
2003	Southeastern Louisiana (OQC)
2004	Southeastern Louisiana (RB)
2005	New Mexico State (GA)
2006–2007	Millsaps (OC/QB)
2008–2010	Stephen F. Austin (OC/QB)
2011	West Virginia (IWR)
2012	West Virginia (OC/WR)
2013–2014	West Virginia (OC/QB)
2015	Kentucky (OC/QB)
2016–2018	Southern Miss (OC/WR)
2019	Houston (TE)
2020	Houston (PGC/QB)
2021–2022	Houston (OC/QB)
2023–present	Miami (FL) (OC/QB)

Shannon Dawson (born August 9, 1977)^[1] is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami. Previously, he has been the offensive coordinator at Houston, Kentucky, West Virginia and Southern Miss.^[2]

Coaching career

Early coaching

Dawson began his coaching career as a receivers coach at his alma mater in 2002. Dawson began coaching with Hal Mumme in 2003 at Southeastern Louisiana where he was an offensive quality control coach and the team’s running backs coach in 2004. He also coached with Mumme in 2005 at New Mexico State working as a graduate assistant. Dawson went to Millsaps College as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2006 coaching there for two seasons. Dawson moved to Stephen F. Austin University in 2008 working once again as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he would coach there until 2010.^[3]

West Virginia

Dawson helped build some of the nation’s most prolific offenses at West Virginia,^[4] where he coached from 2011–2014, with his last three as offensive coordinator. In his final season in Morgantown, WVU ranked 12th in the nation in total offense, averaging 499.8 yards per game, and was ninth nationally in passing offense at 317 yards per contest. The Mountaineers averaged 33.5 points per game and set a school record by scoring at least 30 points in eight consecutive games. WVU also averaged more than 182 rushing yards per game.

Kentucky

Dawson spent the 2015 season as the offensive coordinator^[5] and quarterbacks coach at Kentucky after being hired away from West Virginia^[6] only to be let go after one year.^[7][8]

Southern Miss

Dawson would spend three seasons with Golden Eagles and the offensive coordinators and quarterbacks coach.^[9] In his first season he mentored Nick Mullens in his senior season.^[3]

Houston

Dawson joined the Houston Cougars on Jan. 11, 2019^[10] as the team’s tight ends coach ^[11] under head coach Dana Holgorsen who coached him as a player at Wingate in 1999.^[12] In January 2020, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.^[3][13] In Dawson's three seasons as Houston's quarterbacks coach, the Cougars combined to throw 87 touchdown passes (13th nationally) with a 65.3 completion percentage (19th nationally).

Family

Dawson and his wife, Chelsea, have a daughter, Acelyn.

References

1. "247Sports.com - Coach Info - Shannon Dawson". 247Sports.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
2. Feldman, Bruce. "Shannon Dawson didn't land Stetson Bennett or Mac Jones, but he still loves them". The Athletic. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
3. "Shannon Dawson - Football Coach". Houston Cougars. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
4. Taylor, Allan (August 14, 2013). "Slot receivers on hot seat with Dawson". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
5. Tucker, Kyle. "Former WVU QB praises new Kentucky OC". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
6. "REPORT: UK to hire WVU offensive coordinator". CatsPause. Retrieved October 15, 2020.^{[dead link]}
7. Hale, Jon. "Shannon Dawson out as Kentucky OC". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
8. Marcum, Jason (August 17, 2016). "Shannon Dawson is still the worst". A Sea Of Blue. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
9. Munz, Jason. "Shannon Dawson evaluates his 1st 2 seasons as Southern Miss OC and sees a brighter future". Hattiesburg American. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
10. "Another assistant coach leaves USM as Dawson heads for Houston". The Student Printz. January 12, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
11. Duarte, Joseph (January 17, 2019). "Meet new UH offensive assistant coach Shannon Dawson". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
12. Duarte, Joseph (January 17, 2019). "Meet new UH offensive assistant coach Shannon Dawson". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
13. Duarte, Joseph (January 16, 2020). "UH football announces new roles for coaching staff". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 16, 2021.