When Shannon Harris walks into the Tennessee State football offices, the walls are the same, the hallways are familiar, and the memories come rushing back. For the former Tigers quarterback and longtime assistant, returning to his alma mater feels like stepping back home — but with a program moving forward in new ways.

Harris is entering his third stint on the TSU staff, this time as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He first traded his cleats for a whistle in 2003 as a graduate assistant and went on to serve in nearly every offensive role through 2009. He returned in 2018 as an analyst, was elevated to offensive coordinator in 2019–20, and left the program in 2021 following the arrival of then-head coach Eddie George.

Now, four years later, Harris is back on Jefferson Street, bringing with him fresh perspective — and hardware. He spent the past two seasons with the DC Defenders of the United Football League, helping guide the team to a championship in 2025 and earning UFL Coach of the Year honors.

"To go from being a head coach at that level and now back as an assistant, I think everyone should experience that," Harris said. "It makes you better. You understand why head coaches say certain things, and you manage the game differently. It's made me a much stronger coordinator, and I'm excited to bring that here."

What excites Harris just as much as the playbook is the renewed spirit of TSU's alumni and fan base. From his playing days in the early 2000s, Harris recalls the old tradition of former players — some coming straight from work shifts — gathering along the practice field fence to cheer on the team.

That culture, he said, is coming alive again under head coach Reggie Barlow.

"With Coach Barlow's vision, you can definitely see the excitement," Harris said. "I've seen more former players at scrimmages in the last year than I had in the last 15 or 20. Guys are reengaged, and that matters to this program. It feels like the TSU I remember."

Barlow has made embracing TSU's alumni a priority. From open practices to community events, he has worked to ensure former players feel connected — something Harris said makes a difference for both recruiting and gameday atmosphere.

That connection will be tested and showcased in 2025 as the Tigers host an unprecedented eight home games, the most in program history. For a fan base that once packed Nissan Stadium with crowds of 20,000 to 30,000 during Harris's playing career, the expanded home schedule is an opportunity to show out again.

"It's huge for our fan base," Harris said. "We don't have to go to Memphis or Atlanta anymore — those fans can come here. With the type of schedule we have, and bringing Alabama A&M, North Dakota, and others right here, it's a chance to get the city involved and give our players the support they deserve."

Last season, TSU averaged just over 8,000 fans per game — a number Harris believes can grow with consistency and alumni engagement.

"Coming off a championship season and with eight home games, there's no reason not to fill it up," Harris said. "I've been part of those nights when 40,000 people were in the stands. These young guys deserve that same energy."

Harris's coaching journey — from TSU to Alabama State, Alcorn State, Virginia State, and the UFL — has been marked by steady growth. His return is more than just another job move; it's a homecoming rooted in pride and responsibility.

"This place means everything to me," Harris said. "When I walk around campus, I see the same buildings and remember the same moments from when I played here. But I also see the growth Dr. (Mikki) Allen has brought to athletics. It's not just football — the whole department is moving forward. To be back as part of that is special."

As TSU prepares for the new season, Harris represents both continuity and fresh momentum — an alum returning home with championship experience, charged with leading an offense that will be central to the Tigers' aspirations.

"It's not just about football," Harris said. "It's about reconnecting the alumni, engaging the city, and making this program something everyone is proud of. That's why I came back. And I believe the support is here to make it happen."