Football
Shanahan, Mike
vs
UCLA
Oct 25 (Sat)
TBA
Mike Shanahan
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
- Email:
- football@iu.edu
In his fourth season as Curt Cignetti’s offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach, Mike Shanahan begins his second season in Bloomington after a record-setting first campaign that left Indiana to a College Football Playoff berth.
Shanahan’s offense set program records for touchdowns scored (70), points scored (537) and most 40-point games in a single season (8). Indiana ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring offense (41.3) and passing efficiency (174.3), while it ranked No. 7 in red zone offense among FBS programs.
His balanced offense tied the program single-season record for rushing touchdowns (37) and passed for the second-most scores in program history (33). Kurtis Rourke set the program’s single-season mark for passing touchdowns (29), while Ty Son Lawton (11) and Justice Ellison (10) became the first running back duo with double-digit touchdowns scored in the same season.
At wide receiver, Elijah Sarratt earned third-team All-Big Ten after he finished No. 6 in the Big Ten in yards receiving (957) and No. 8 in touchdown catches (8). His 957 yards receiving rank No. 10 on the single season charts, while his eight touchdown grabs sit tied for No. 10 in IU history.
Over four seasons at James Madison, Shanahan worked with the wide receivers and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator (2019-20) for two seasons before his promotion to offensive coordinator for his final three seasons (2021-23).
His Dukes offenses produced two All-America selections at wide receiver and six of his pupils earned all-conference honors. In his three seasons as offensive coordinator, a JMU quarterback garnered either Sun Belt Player of the Year (2023) or Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022).
The 2023 James Madison offense led the Sun Belt in offensive efficiency though the regular season and finished No. 29 in the FBS in total offense (430.2 ypg). Quarterback Jordan McCloud was named Sun Belt Player of the Year and wideouts Reggie Brown and Sarratt were each tabbed first-team all-conference.
Shanahan’s offense ranked top 30 in the FBS in six categories during the 2022 campaign: No. 6 in time of possession (33:44), No. 7 in yards per completion (14.54), No. 29 in total offense (452.5), and No. 30 in scoring (37.0).
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. Thornton was the program’s first two-time 1,000-yard receiver after 1,051 yards receiving in 2022.
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). All-American quarterback Cole Johnson finished No. 4 in the voting for the Walter Payton Award and won the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year.
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 posted the single-season record for yards receiving (1,250) and receiving touchdowns (15).
During the spring 2020-21 campaign, Thornton earned first-team All-Colonial Athletic Conference status after recording 26 catches for 428 yards and three scores. Wells Jr. finished 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, with 74 catches for 1,179 yards and 11 touchdowns. Polk and running back Percy Agyei-Obese became the first JMU tandem to have 1,000 yards receiving and 1,000 yards rushing in the same season.
Shanahan came to JMU following two seasons at Elon, where he also led the receiving unit for the Phoenix.
He guided Kortez Weeks to third-team All-CAA and Freshman All-America accolades at Elon in 2017, and Walt Pegues to second-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors in 2016.
Prior to IUP, Shanahan spent two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh (2014-15) where he worked primarily with the receivers. NFL veteran Tyler Boyd earned first-team All-ACC in 2015.
Shanahan was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets and sent time in camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013. He also played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
A four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain at Pitt, Shanahan made 159 receptions for 2,276 yards. Both totals rank in the top 10 in school history, and he earned second-team All-Big East in 2012 after 62 grabs for 983 yards and six touchdowns. He helped the Panthers to four-straight bowl games.
He earned two degrees from Pitt in history (bachelor’s) and social studies education (master’s). Shanahan was a four-time All-Big East Academic Team selection and recipient of Pitt's annual Senior of Distinction Award.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Pittsburgh
2014-15: Graduate Assistant - Offense
Indiana University Pennsylvania
2016: Wide Receivers
Elon University
2017-18: Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
James Madison University
2019-20: Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
2021-23: Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
Indiana University
2024-: Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
University of Pittsburgh
2008-12: Wide Receiver
Shanahan’s offense set program records for touchdowns scored (70), points scored (537) and most 40-point games in a single season (8). Indiana ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring offense (41.3) and passing efficiency (174.3), while it ranked No. 7 in red zone offense among FBS programs.
His balanced offense tied the program single-season record for rushing touchdowns (37) and passed for the second-most scores in program history (33). Kurtis Rourke set the program’s single-season mark for passing touchdowns (29), while Ty Son Lawton (11) and Justice Ellison (10) became the first running back duo with double-digit touchdowns scored in the same season.
At wide receiver, Elijah Sarratt earned third-team All-Big Ten after he finished No. 6 in the Big Ten in yards receiving (957) and No. 8 in touchdown catches (8). His 957 yards receiving rank No. 10 on the single season charts, while his eight touchdown grabs sit tied for No. 10 in IU history.
Over four seasons at James Madison, Shanahan worked with the wide receivers and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator (2019-20) for two seasons before his promotion to offensive coordinator for his final three seasons (2021-23).
His Dukes offenses produced two All-America selections at wide receiver and six of his pupils earned all-conference honors. In his three seasons as offensive coordinator, a JMU quarterback garnered either Sun Belt Player of the Year (2023) or Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022).
The 2023 James Madison offense led the Sun Belt in offensive efficiency though the regular season and finished No. 29 in the FBS in total offense (430.2 ypg). Quarterback Jordan McCloud was named Sun Belt Player of the Year and wideouts Reggie Brown and Sarratt were each tabbed first-team all-conference.
Shanahan’s offense ranked top 30 in the FBS in six categories during the 2022 campaign: No. 6 in time of possession (33:44), No. 7 in yards per completion (14.54), No. 29 in total offense (452.5), and No. 30 in scoring (37.0).
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. Thornton was the program’s first two-time 1,000-yard receiver after 1,051 yards receiving in 2022.
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). All-American quarterback Cole Johnson finished No. 4 in the voting for the Walter Payton Award and won the CFPA FCS National Performer of the Year.
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 posted the single-season record for yards receiving (1,250) and receiving touchdowns (15).
During the spring 2020-21 campaign, Thornton earned first-team All-Colonial Athletic Conference status after recording 26 catches for 428 yards and three scores. Wells Jr. finished 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, with 74 catches for 1,179 yards and 11 touchdowns. Polk and running back Percy Agyei-Obese became the first JMU tandem to have 1,000 yards receiving and 1,000 yards rushing in the same season.
Shanahan came to JMU following two seasons at Elon, where he also led the receiving unit for the Phoenix.
He guided Kortez Weeks to third-team All-CAA and Freshman All-America accolades at Elon in 2017, and Walt Pegues to second-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors in 2016.
Prior to IUP, Shanahan spent two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh (2014-15) where he worked primarily with the receivers. NFL veteran Tyler Boyd earned first-team All-ACC in 2015.
Shanahan was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets and sent time in camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013. He also played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
A four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain at Pitt, Shanahan made 159 receptions for 2,276 yards. Both totals rank in the top 10 in school history, and he earned second-team All-Big East in 2012 after 62 grabs for 983 yards and six touchdowns. He helped the Panthers to four-straight bowl games.
He earned two degrees from Pitt in history (bachelor’s) and social studies education (master’s). Shanahan was a four-time All-Big East Academic Team selection and recipient of Pitt's annual Senior of Distinction Award.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Pittsburgh
2014-15: Graduate Assistant - Offense
Indiana University Pennsylvania
2016: Wide Receivers
Elon University
2017-18: Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
James Madison University
2019-20: Wide Receivers/Recruiting Coordinator
2021-23: Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
Indiana University
2024-: Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
University of Pittsburgh
2008-12: Wide Receiver
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