Randy Shannon

Three-time national champion Randy Shannon is in his third season at FSU and second as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2023.

Shannon, who was a senior defensive analyst on FSU’s staff for the 2021 season, has 31 years of coaching experience and has directly coached nine first-team All-Americans, 79 all-conference performers and 74 NFL Draft picks, including 21 first-round selections. He was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UCF from 2018-20 and also has served as head coach at the University of Miami and defensive coordinator at Miami and Florida, as well as linebackers coach at Arkansas, TCU and the Miami Dolphins.

Shannon directed an FSU linebacker unit that was a crucial piece to Florida State’s 10-3 record and final ranking of No. 10 in the Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the AP poll. The Seminoles led the ACC and ranked in the top-15 nationally in passing defense, yards per pass attempt allowed and total defense. FSU’s average of 165.4 passing yards allowed per game ranked fourth in the country, its average of 6.2 yards per pass attempt allowed was 12th nationally, and its 321.8 total yards allowed per game was 15th in the country. The Seminoles also ranked 12th nationally with an average of 3.08 sacks per game, 14th with an average of 4.85 yards per play allowed, 20th in scoring defense holding opponents to an average of 20.6 points per game and 22nd in passing efficiency defense with opposing quarterbacks having a 120.63 rating.

The linebackers were led by all-conference performer Tatum Bethune and Kalen DeLoach. Bethune ranked second on the team with 84 tackles and added 9.5 tackles for loss, while DeLoach was third on FSU’s defense with his 65 tackles and had 7.5 tackles for loss. Bethune made a season-high 14 tackles, including 2.5 for loss at No. 14 NC State and was one of two defenders in the ACC to hit both those totals in the same game in 2022. DeLoach, who made a season-best eight tackles in the Cheez-It Bowl victory vs. Oklahoma and had three other seven-tackle games, also led the team with seven pass breakups in 2022.

Sophomore DJ Lundy made 48 tackles with 5.0 for loss and junior Brendan Gant added 33 tackles with 1.5 for loss. Lundy also showcased his versatility by scoring two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown, scoring vs. LSU, vs. No. 4 Clemson and at Miami to become only the sixth player nationally since 2000 to record at least 40 tackles, one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown in the same season. Lundy was the only one of those six to also record a sack, and in 2022 he produced 40 more tackles than any other player with a rushing and receiving touchdown.

In his three years coordinating the UCF defense, Shannon developed 15 all-conference honorees while helping the Knights to a 28-8 overall record, including the 2018 AAC championship and a berth in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. Safety Richie Grant was a three-time All-AAC selection and 2020 Jim Thorpe Award finalist. Grant, a second-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft, was one of four NFL Draft picks coached by Shannon in Orlando, joining 2019 second-round pick Trysten Hill, 2021 third-round selection Aaron Robinson and 2021 sixth-round pick Tay Gowan.

The 2018 UCF defense ranked fifth in the nation with an average of 8.2 tackles for loss per game and was sixth nationally with 28 takeaways. In 2019, the Knights led the country with 9.0 tackles for loss per game and also ranked third in passing efficiency defense and fifth in third-down defense. In 2020, their 13 fumble recoveries were tops nationally while their 22 total takeaways ranked sixth.

Shannon went to UCF following three seasons at Florida, where he helped the Gators win 33 games and two SEC Eastern Division titles. In 2016, he coached a defense that ranked second in the country in pass defense and fifth nationally in total defense. Linebacker Jarrad Davis was a finalist for the Butkus Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy before being picked 21st overall in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The 2015 defense ranked fourth in the SEC in yards-per-carry defense and fifth in rushing defense while producing three players with more than 95 tackles, the first time UF had three 95-tackle performers since 2002. The 2017 team ranked third in the SEC in third-down defense, fourth in red zone defense and second in interceptions, led by CJ Henderson’s four that were the most among SEC true freshmen, while ranking sixth in the nation in interception return touchdowns with Henderson being one of only two true freshmen in the country to record two pick-sixes that season.

In the only three seasons he has coached outside the state of Florida, Shannon coached linebackers at TCU in 2012 before coaching linebackers at Arkansas for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The 2014 Arkansas defense featured first-team All-SEC linebacker and 2015 fifth-round NFL Draft selection Martrell Spaight, who led the SEC with 123 tackles while helping the Razorbacks rank second in the SEC and 12th nationally in rushing defense. In 2012, he mentored All-Big 12 linebacker Kenny Cain on a defense that led the Big 12 in total defense, rushing defense and takeaways.

Shannon spent 20 years coaching in Miami, beginning his career as a graduate assistant at the University of Miami for the 1991 national champions before coaching the defensive line in 1992 and linebackers from 1993-97. After three seasons on staff with the Miami Dolphins, Shannon returned to the University of Miami as defensive coordinator for six seasons and head coach for four.

As head coach, he led the Hurricanes to 28 wins and three bowl appearances while also ranking in the top 10 nationally in Academic Progress Rate each season. His 2009 team won nine games and had nine all-conference performers after the 2008 team produced the ACC’s Defensive Rookie of the Year and four Freshman All-Americans. He guided the Hurricanes to appearances in the Sun Bowl, Champs Sports Bowl and Emerald Bowl in his final three seasons as head coach.

In five of his six seasons as defensive coordinator, Miami ranked in the top-10 nationally in total defense, including the 2001 national championship team that led the NCAA in scoring defense, turnover margin and passing efficiency defense. The 2001 squad allowed only 12 touchdowns while scoring seven defensive touchdowns. His defenses produced 25 players drafted from 2002-07, including 12 first-round picks. In 2005, his defense led the country in pass defense and pass efficiency defense while also ranking fourth nationally in total defense and scoring defense. Shannon also coordinated the nation’s best passing defense in 2002 and 2003, with the 2003 defense ranking second nationally in total defense and fourth in scoring defense.

The 2001 Broyles Award winner as the best assistant coach in the country, Shannon was a four-year letterman at linebacker for the University of Miami and a starter on the 1987 national championship team. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and became the first rookie to start at outside linebacker for Dallas since 1963. Shannon earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Miami in 1989.

*-Served as Florida’s interim head coach for four games in 2017