After winning the UFL Championship with the D.C. Defenders, Shannon Harris has been named Co-Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Tennessee State University. Harris was also named permanent head coach of the Defenders for the 2026 season. This marks his third stint with TSU football.
Harris has held collegiate coaching positions at Virginia State, Alcorn State, and Hampton.
Before his time with the Defenders, Harris spent two seasons (2021–22) at Virginia State, serving as Offensive Coordinator and later as Interim Head Coach for the 2022 campaign.
During his second stint at TSU (2018–2020), Harris served as an offensive analyst in his first season before being promoted to Offensive Coordinator for the final two years.
From 2015 to 2017, Harris was the Wide Receivers Coach and Passing Game Coordinator at Alcorn State. During his tenure, the Braves made three consecutive SWAC East Division and SWAC Championship appearances. In 2015, Alcorn won the conference title and earned a bid to the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl, falling to North Carolina A&T, 41–34.
In 2017, Alcorn led the SWAC in total offense (461.3 yards per game) and first downs (241). Harris developed standout wide receiver Norlando Veals, who led the SWAC with 901 receiving yards and 81.9 receiving yards per game. Veals earned First-Team All-Conference honors and was named an HBCU All-America Honorable Mention.
Harris also mentored 2015 SWAC Newcomer of the Year Marquis Warford, who ranked in the top five in the conference in all-purpose yards. Both Veals and Warford earned SWAC Player of the Week honors in 2017.
Under Harris’ guidance, the Braves finished third in the nation in the final HBCU Coaches Poll and went 11–1 against SWAC East Division opponents, including undefeated seasons in 2015 and 2016.
Before Alcorn, Harris spent four seasons at Alabama State, coaching quarterbacks in his final two years and wide receivers during the first two. He helped guide the Hornets to back-to-back winning seasons.
Earlier in his career, Harris spent time at Hampton University as Quarterbacks Coach, where he was also involved in recruiting, film breakdown, and academic support.
Harris began his coaching career at his alma mater, Tennessee State, where he served from 2002 to 2009 in various roles, including Graduate Assistant, Quarterbacks Coach, Tight Ends Coach, and Wide Receivers Coach.
He also gained NFL experience with the Tennessee Titans, participating in summer camp and preseason games as a coaching intern in 2014 and 2015. His responsibilities included film breakdown and working with the wide receivers.
Harris earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State in 2004. As a student-athlete, he was a starting quarterback, team captain, and Team MVP. He appeared on the Walter Payton Award ballot in 2001.
Coaching Timeline:
• Tennessee State (2003) – Graduate Assistant
• Tennessee State (2004) – Quarterbacks Coach
• Tennessee State (2005) – Tight Ends Coach
• Tennessee State (2006–2008) – Wide Receivers Coach
• Tennessee State (2009) – Quarterbacks Coach
• Alabama State (2010–2014) – Quarterbacks Coach
• Alcorn State (2015–2017) – Wide Receivers Coach / Passing Game Coordinator
• Tennessee State (2018) – Offensive Analyst
• Tennessee State (2019–2020) – Offensive Coordinator
• Virginia State (2021) – Offensive Coordinator
• Virginia State (2022) – Interim Head Coach
• D.C. Defenders (2023–2024) – Quarterbacks Coach
• D.C. Defenders (2025–present) – Head Coach
• Tennessee State (2025–present) – Co-Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach
