Shannon to coach linebackers at Arkansas

Arkansas added Randy Shannon to Bret Bielema's coaching staff on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012.
Arkansas added Randy Shannon to Bret Bielema's coaching staff on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012.

— A little more than a year after he was reportedly interested in joining the Razorbacks as defensive coordinator, Randy Shannon will call Arkansas home for the 2013 football season.

Shannon was hired by Bret Bielema to be Arkansas' linebackers coach on Sunday. The 46-year-old worked in the same role at TCU this season after last being the head coach at Miami from 2007 to 2010.

Before his promotion to head coach, he spent six seasons as the Hurricanes' defensive coordinator, winning the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach in 2001.

In 1988, Shannon graduated with a degree in liberal arts after playing linebacker for Miami. He played two seasons for the Dallas Cowboys before going back to Miami to begin his coaching career.

Shannon has been a member of three national championship teams as a player and coach.

Prior to taking over as defensive coordinator at his alma mater in 2001, He coached with the Miami Dolphins for three years. He spent 17 total seasons at the University of Miami until his firing as head coach.

Although Miami has faced sanctions because of players receiving improper benefits from booster Nevin Shapiro from 2002 to 2010, Sports Illustrated writer Alexander Wolff wrote 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," in an open letter.

Shannon is the seventh full-time assistant hired by Bielema after he was introduced as the Razorbacks' head coach earlier this month and third on the defensive side of the ball. Chris Ash (defensive coordinator) and Charlie Partridge (defensive line coach) - both of Wisconsin - will join Arkansas following the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

Other hires by Bielema include offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, offensive line coach Sam Pittman, running backs coach Joel Thomas and wide receivers coach George McDonald.

Upcoming Events