Shawn Gibbs returned to Aggieland as the 23rd head football coach in North Carolina A&T State University football program history on December 6, 2024.
Gibbs is a native of Black Mountain, N.C. He spent 11 seasons at A&T as the football program’s running backs and special teams coach under head coaches Rod Broadway (2011-17) and Sam Washington (2018-2021) before taking his first career head coaching position at Division II Fort Valley State University (FVSU) on February 10, 2022.
Gibbs posted a 22-9 record in three seasons with the Wildcats. In 2023, he led the Wildcats to the Florida Beach Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where Fort Valley State earned a 23-10 win over Johnson C. Smith. During Gibbs’ tenure there, FVSU went 17-6 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) play.
FVSU had back-to-back eight-win seasons in 2022 and 2023, marking the first time in 24 years that has occurred in program history. Gibbs brings with him 20 years of coaching experience. Before his time at A&T, he served 2007-10 as Grambling State University’s running backs coach under Broadway. Gibbs also served as running back coach at his alma mater, North Carolina Central University (NCCU), under Broadway from 2003-06. During his time there, NCCU won consecutive CIAA titles (2005-06).
During Gibbs’ time as an assistant coach, the program earned a national reputation as Running Back U. The Aggies won Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships in 2014, 2015, and 2017-19 with Gibbs as a key member of the coaching staff. He also served as the position coach to one of the most historic players in program history, running back Tarik Cohen.
Cohen became the MEAC’s all-time leading rusher, MEAC Rookie of the Year and a three-time MEAC offensive player of the year. In addition, Cohen was drafted in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears in 2017 and eventually became an NFL All-Pro. Cohen is the only player in MEAC history to win offensive player of the year three times.
Gibbs also coached 2011 MEAC offensive player of the year Mike Mayhew, two-time first-team all-conference back and 2017 Celebration Bowl offensive MVP Marquell Cartwright and Jah-Maine Martin, who owns the program record for single-season touchdowns (23).
There have been other successes at running back for Gibbs at A&T. Ricky Lewis had a career year in 2012, rushing for 437 yards and six touchdowns on 97 carries. Dominique Drake, Cohen and Lewis combined to score 19 rushing touchdowns in 2013.
The list of return specialists under Gibbs’ tutelage is also impressive. It includes such names as NCAA record-breaking punt returner Kris Gardin, former NFL standout Tony McRae and record-breaking kickoff returner and Celebration Bowl hero Malik Wilson.
Before his time at A&T, Gibbs spent four seasons as Grambling State's running backs coach. Under Gibbs’ watch, the Tigers possessed one of the most successful running games in Division I-FCS. Gibbs inherited a young running back corps that included freshmen Frank Warren and Cornelius Walker. In their first year under Gibbs, Warren and Walker combined for 1,466 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Warren was named SWAC Freshman of the Year in 2007 as he finished with 901 yards. The running game continued to flourish under Gibbs in 2009. The Grambling State rushing attack ascended to a No. 12 ranking nationally.
Gibbs’ stint at A&T marked his third stop with Broadway. He was also a running backs coach under Broadway at N.C. Central from 2003-06. During his four seasons there, he helped the Eagles put together one of the best offenses in Division II football. The Eagles won consecutive CIAA titles (2005-06). During the 2006 season, the Eagles led the CIAA in scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense.
The Eagles’ running game was led by Greg Pruitt, Jr. Under Gibbs, Pruitt became the school’s all-time leading rusher. Pruitt led the Eagles in rushing three straight seasons including two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2004 and ‘05. Pruitt finished his career with more than 3,000 and signed a free agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
The relationship Gibbs has with the Eagles football program extends to him being a star running back for the Eagles (1993-97). He ranks among the all-time leading rushers in school history with 1,687 yards. Over his career, he averaged 5.1 yards per carry. Gibbs tied the school record for longest rushing touchdown from scrimmage in 1996 when he went 89 yards against Fayetteville State. Gibbs led the Eagles in rushing during the 1996 and ‘97 seasons, and he ranks among the Eagles’ top career scoring leaders with 121 points.He had a career-best 10 touchdowns in 1996.
Gibbs has a B.S. degree in behavioral and social sciences from NCCU. He attended Owens High School and left it in 1992 as its all-time leading rusher (4,655 yards). As a standout back at NCCU (1993-97), he rushed for 1,687 career yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. Gibbs tied the school record for longest rushing touchdown from scrimmage in 1996 when he went 89 yards against Fayetteville State.
