Mike Shanahan - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Mike Shanahan

Title:
Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
Email:
shanahma@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-6517

Mike Shanahan was hired on Dec. 17, 2018, as an assistant coach with the James Madison University program, working primarily with the wide receivers. Ahead of the 2021 season, he was promoted to offensive coordinator.

Shanahan previously served as the program’s recruiting coordinator prior to his promotion to lead the offense.

In 2022, Shanahan’s offense ranked top 30 in the FBS in six categories. That included being ranked sixth in time of possession (33:44), seventh in yards per completion (14.54), 13th in scoring (37.0), 16th in pass efficiency (157.2), 29th in total offense (452.5) and 30th in passing scores (27).

Quarterback Todd Centeio was voted Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player and Newcomer of the Year, and five offensive players were named All-Sun Belt. That included wide receiver Kris Thornton, who was a Pro Football Network Honorable Mention All-American and First Team All-SBC member after he became the program’s first two-time 1,000-yard receiver. He recorded 59 catches for 1,015 yards and seven touchdowns, ranking second in the SBC in receiving yards and fourth in touchdowns.

In JMU’s final FCS season in 2021, JMU set program single-season records for passing yards (3,868), passing average (276.3) and passing touchdowns (43), as All-American quarterback Cole Johnson finished fourth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award and won the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year. Nationally, the Dukes were third in both completion percentage (67.6%) and pass efficiency (171.0), fifth in both scoring (38.3) and 17th in passing yards per game and eighth in fewest interceptions (5).

The high-octane passing attack helped produce two JMU receivers earning All-America status in Antwane Wells Jr. and Thornton. The duo co-set the new JMU single-season record with 83 receptions. Wells Jr. also reset the record books by setting new marks with 1,250 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns. His yards total was third-most in the FCS and he co-led the country in receiving scores.

During the spring 2020-21 campaign, Thornton earned First Team All-CAA status after recording 26 catches for 428 yards and three scores, while Wells Jr. had a big late-season push to finish with 33 grabs for 603 yards and six touchdowns to earn Freshman All-America status.

In his first season with the Dukes, Shanahan coached Brandon Polk to Second Team All-CAA status, as he turned in one of the best single-season performances in school history. Polk and running back Percy Agyei-Obese became the first JMU tandem to have 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in the same season.

Polk produced 74 receptions for 1,179 yards and 11 touchdowns, which all ranked second in JMU single-season history at that point. He ranked fourth in the CAA in receiving scores, eighth in receiving yards per game (73.7) and ninth in receptions per game (4.62). Additionally, Riley Stapleton made 65 catches for 788 yards and 10 scores, ranking third at JMU in both catches and receiving touchdowns and eighth in yards.

Shanahan came to JMU following two seasons at Elon, where he also led the receiving unit for the Phoenix.

In his first year at Elon, he guided Kortez Weeks to Third Team All-CAA and Freshman All-America accolades. Weeks led three Phoenix receivers over 500 yards that season, including his team-high 709. The receivers aided in Elon averaging more than 50 passing yards per game from 2016 to 2017, tallying 205.5 receiving yards per outing.

In 2018, Cole Taylor was one of the league’s top deep-threat receivers, as he averaged 16.9 yards per catch, which ranked fifth in the CAA. He led the squad with 524 receiving yards, while Weeks was second with 484 yards.

Shanahan followed Cignetti to Elon after spending the 2016 season as his wide receivers coach at Indiana (Pa.). In his lone season at IUP, Shanahan helped Walt Pegues to Second Team All-PSAC honors. Pegues ranked 11th in NCAA Division II with 94.1 receiving yards per game.

IUP finished the 2016 campaign at 10-2 overall, finishing the year ranked 12th after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Prior to IUP, Shanahan spent two seasons at Pittsburgh (2014-15). While at Pitt, he worked primarily with the receivers, guiding NFL prospect Tyler Boyd to First Team All-ACC honors with 91 catches for 926 yards and six scores in 2015. He was part of a Panthers’ team that went 8-5 and advanced to the Military Bowl that year.

He also saw time coaching alongside offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jim Chaney during spring practice as he transitioned from a volunteer coach in 2014 to the offensive graduate assistant.

Shanahan graduated from Pitt in 2012 after four years on the gridiron where his 159 receptions and 2,276 yards both rank in the top 10 in school history. A four-year letterman and two-time team captain, Shanahan earned Second Team All-Big East honors in 2012 after catching 62 passes for 983 yards and six touchdowns while helping the Panthers to a BBVA Compass Bowl appearance.

He was also a four-time All-Big East Academic Team selection and was the recipient of Pitt's annual Senior of Distinction Award.

After graduation, Shanahan had stints as a member of the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' preseason squads. He was also a member of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League as a wide receiver and tight end.

Shanahan earned Associated Press first team Class AAAA All-State honors as a high school senior. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Pitt as he studied history as an undergrad and social studies education as a grad student.