Shawn Gibbs Renews Fort Valley State Head Coach Contract Ending The Controversy Of Him Joining Florida A&M University
The controversy surrounding Shawn Gibbs' candidacy to become the head football coach at Florida A&M University has ended. After a week of rumors and alumni discord with the vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, Tiffani-Dawn Sykes, Gibbs won't replace Willie Simmons as head coach. The turmoil was for naught.
Late Monday evening, Fort Valley State University president Paul Joe and the director of athletics, Dr. Renae Myles-Payne, announced Shawn Gibbs had renewed his contract to remain the Wildcats head football coach.
Dr. Myles-Payne posted on social media, "I am excited to announce that Coach Shawn Gibbs has officially renewed his agreement with FVSU. President Paul Jones and I, in collaboration with the Fort Valley State Athletic Department Association Board, are happy to have Coach Gibbs continue leading our Wildcat football program."
Last season, Coach Gibbs led the Wildcats to a successful 8-3 campaign while winning the inaugural Florida Beach Bowl over Johnson C. Smith, 23-10. Gibbs has a 16-5 record as head coach in two seasons at Fort Valley State.
Shawn Gibbs, 49, was an outstanding collegiate running back at North Carolina A&T. He began coaching with the Aggies under head football coach Rod Broadway in 2002 as their tight ends coach.
After stints as running backs coach with the North Carolina Central Eagles from 2003-06 and Grambling State Tigers from 2007-2010, Gibbs returned to NC A&T to lead the running backs from 2011-2021.
The Black Mountain, NC native coached running backs Mike Mayhew and Tarik Cohen to MEAC Offensive Player of the Year awards. Cohen won the Celebration Bowl MVP, Black College Football's Player of the Year, and later became an NFL running back for the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers.
SHAWN GIBBS' COACHING CAREER
- 2002: North Carolina A&T (TE)
- 2003–2006: North Carolina Central (RB)
- 2007–2010: Grambling State (RB)
- 2011–2021: North Carolina A&T (RB)
- 2022–present: Fort Valley State (HC)
