HOUSTON, Texas -- Texas Southern University
head football coach Darrell Asberry has announced two key hires for the upcoming season. Joining the Tigers coaching staff for the 2015 campaign will be Offensive Coordinator John Shannon and Defensive Coordinator Heishma Northern.
"We really feel fortunate to be able to bring in two guys with the level of experiences of Coach Shannon and Coach Northern," said Asberry. "Obviously things couldn't be better in regards to familiarity as I played for Coach Shannon and grew up with Coach Northern. We're very excited to have both of them on staff and I truly feel like the sky is the limit with this football program with the collective talent we've been able to assemble on the coaching side."
Shannon brings with him an impressive resume that features stops at Marshall, Toledo, Troy State and Jackson State.
In his first year at Marshall, Shannon directed an offense that averaged 330 yards and 20.5 points per game. Marshall's offense also produced a 1,000-yard rusher in second-team all-conference selection Darius Marshall and two all-freshman tackles in C.J. Wood and Ryan Tillman.
Shannon came to Marshall after spending five years on the staff at the University of Toledo. He served as the Rocket's offensive coordinator for three seasons after coaching the wide receivers in his first two years at Toledo.
The Rockets had great success under Shannon's tutelage. In four of his five seasons at Toledo, his offenses ranked in the top 21 in the nation in total offense, including two years ranking 11th overall. The 2007 season saw Shannon's success continue, averaging 448.4 yards per game and 21st in the country. Toledo was had the No. 14 rushing attack in the nation last season, rushing for over 209 yards per game. In an October contest at Northern Illinois, Shannon's offense set a school and MAC record with 812 yards of offense.
During Shannon's tenure, Toledo grabbed two Mid-American Conference West Division crowns including a conference championship in 2004. Those seasons were capped off by postseason appearances in the 2004 Motor City Bowl and the 2005 GMAC Bowl. The Rockets upset four ranked teams in his five seasons, including a win over ninth-ranked Pittsburgh in 2003.
Shannon coached NFL quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, who was the first-team All-MAC Quarterback in 2005 and was named the conference MVP that season. He finished his career as the NCAA active leader in career completions percentage, connecting on 68.44% of his passes. During this time he also coached Lance Moore, who played for the New Orleans Saints, and who led the NCAA with more than 100 catches during his junior season.
Prior to his work at Toledo, Shannon was the offensive coordinator at Troy University in 2001-2002. He assisted in the Trojans' move to the Division I-A level where the Trojans posted a 7-4 record, which included a win over SEC member Mississippi State.
From 1994-2000, Shannon worked as the offensive coordinator at Jackson State. During his tenure, the team set multiple offensive records while posting wins in 75 percent of their games. JSU brought home conference championships in 1995 and 1996 while participating in the SWAC Championship Game in 1999.
He received several accolades while at Jackson State, including the 2000 American Football Coach Magazine Division I-AA Offensive Coordinator of the Year, the 2000 AFCA Division I-AA Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2000 All-American Football Foundation Top Assistant Coaches Award.
His other coaching stops include two seasons coaching wide receivers at Maryland (1992-93), offensive coordinator and receivers coach at the University of Pacific (1989-1991), offensive passing game coordinator at the University of Richmond (1984-88), assistant at Morehead State (1982-83) and stints as an assistant coach Wayne State University (1980-81) and Maryville College (1978-79). He began his career as a graduate assistant and tight ends coach at Western Kentucky in 1977.
Northern is widely regarded as one of the top defensive minds in Black College Football. At Prairie View A&M as head coach, Northern had several memorable campaigns as 36 offensive records were broken under his watch.
The Panthers were an offensive juggernaut nationally as they ranked sixth nationally in total offense, ninth in scoring offense, ninth in completion percentage, ninth in third down percentage, 10th in passing offense and 10th in first down offense. Wide receiver Deandre Cooper, who earned an NFL Free Agent invite, also closed out his career in style as he shattered PVAMU all-time great Otis Taylor's single season mark with 1,037 receiving yards and 80 receptions.
Northern also made history as his 56-48 win over Stephen F. Austin was the first over SFA in school history and the first win over a Southland Conference opponent since 1985. Six student-athletes garnered All-SWAC honors as the Panthers finished second in the SWAC West.
During the 2012 season, the Panthers became an offensive juggernaut under Northern as they led the SWAC with 414.7 yards per game while also finishing first in pass efficiency (140.3), second in pass offense (228.0) and third in rush offense (186.7). Six players were named to the All-SWAC team with freshman Johnta' Hebert earning SWAC Freshman of the Year honors.
Prairie View A&M continued its NFL tradition as former Panther defensive end Jarvis Wilson inked a free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers. Wilson's signing marked the fourth straight year a student-athlete from Prairie View A&M signed an NFL Free Agent contract.
In his first season as head coach for the Panthers, Northern led one of the youngest teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference to within one game of earning a SWAC Championship berth as Prairie View A&M finished tied for second in the SWAC's Western Division. As a team, the Panthers placed five players on the 2011 All-SWAC Team, led the league in rush offense with 174.8 yards per game and finished with the third-best offensive unit in the SWAC. Defensively, Northern's defensive background had a huge impact on the field as the Panthers led the SWAC with 45 sacks. Prairie View A&M also displayed sound discipline on the gridiron as they committed the fewest amount of penalties in the SWAC.
As a result of the team's defensive prowess, defensive end Adrian Hamilton emerged as one of the top defenders in the nation as he set the SWAC and Prairie View A&M single season sack record with 20.5 sacks en route to earning 2011 co-SWAC Defensive Player of the Year honors and a third-place finish in the 2011 Buck Buchanan Award voting, which is awarded to the top defender on the Football Championship Subdivision level. Prairie View A&M's fifth consecutive consensus AP All-American, Hamilton also played in two postseason all-star games in addition to becoming the second straight Panther defensive lineman to sign a NFL contract as he inked with the Dallas Cowboys.
In addition to Hamilton's accomplishments, several other Panthers had impressive seasons under Northern as running back/kick returner Jermaine Waddy led the SWAC in all-purpose yards while cornerback Moses Ellis finished as the league's top punt returner.
Prior to becoming head coach, Northern was an award-winning defensive coordinator for six seasons at Prairie View A&M. Under his watch, the Panther defense rose to become one of the top units in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Ranks.
For four straight seasons, Northern's defense produced another All-American following the 2010 campaign as cornerback Moses Ellis led the nation in interceptions with eight and defended 22 passes en route to earning All-American and All-SWAC honors. As a unit, the Panthers finished second in pass defense amongst SWAC foes as they only yielded 164.6 yards per contest. As a result, four members of the Panther defense earned All-SWAC honors in Ellis (first team), defensive lineman Quinton Spears (first), free safety Chris Adingupu (second) and middle linebacker Max Sencherey (second).
Despite losing six key starters and a two-time All-American from the previous year, Prairie View's defensive unit was instrumental during the team's historic run to the SWAC Championship in 2009 as the unit led the SWAC in scoring defense with 16.6 points per outing and pass defense efficiency (101.7). The Panthers finished the 2009 season ranked fifth in total defense and produced its second consecutive All-American in defensive back Anthony Beck along with having three All-SWAC members in Beck, Spears and Adingupu. In addition, Northern's unit recorded two shutouts on the season and held four teams to 74 yards or less on the ground.
In 2008, the Panther defense set the tone for the team's 9-1 record as they concluded the year ranked second nationally in scoring defense, third in total defense, third in rush defense and seventh in pass efficiency defense. Prairie View also made history and recorded two shutouts for the first time since the 1966 season.
As a result of Prairie View's defensive prowess, Northern earned national acclaim and was selected as FootballScoop.com's 2008 Division I-AA Coordinator of the Year. Individually, linebacker Zach East closed out his career as a two-time All-American while Beck and Spears earned First and Second Team All-SWAC Honors, respectively.
During the 2007 season, Northern's defense played a key role in helping the Panthers clinch their first winning season in four decades as they finished atop the SWAC in scoring and red zone defense along with a third-place total defense ranking. A total of three starters earned All-SWAC honors led by East earning All-American and SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Honors.
One year removed from finishing sixth in total defense among SWAC foes, Northern made his mark in his second year at Prairie View during the 2006 season after fielding the top-ranked defensive unit in the conference. Led by first team All-SWAC defensive end and future NFL free agent signee Jermaine McGhee, the Panthers set a school record for fewest yards rushing by an opponent after holding Edward Waters College to -35 yards. For his hard work on the gridiron after the season, Northern was one of 26 coaches from across the nation invited to attend the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy in Miami, Fla.
Prior to his tenure at Prairie View, Northern spent seven seasons at Grambling State University in a variety of capacities. Initially brought to GSU to serve as running backs coach, Northern made a seamless transition to coaching defensive backs in 2001 as his unit ranked ninth nationally in interceptions en route to GSU's second-straight SWAC Championship. During the 2002 season, which marked Grambling's third consecutive SWAC title, Northern's group improved on the interception mark as they ranked fourth nationally.
In 2003, Northern assumed the role of interim defensive coordinator and immediately made his impact felt as the Tiger defense finished the year ranked third nationally against the run in Division I-AA. In the SWAC, the Tigers finished second in rushing, third in scoring defense, fourth in opponent third down percentage, fourth in turnover margin and fifth in sacks.
Over the course of his coaching career, Northern has had several of his former players enter the professional football realm gaining experience with the NFL, World and Arena Football Leagues. In addition, several of his pupils have received an opportunity to coach on the collegiate level.
A student of the game of football, Northern was one of only 15 coaches from across the nation selected to participate in the prestigious NCAA Champions Forum during June of 2010. He has also completed a training camp internship with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League in the summer of 2009.
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