Shannon Dawson begins his first season as the Hurricanes’ Offensive Coordinator in 2023. Dawson, who was named Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks coach at Miami in February 2023, spent the past four seasons at the University of Houston, including the last three as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach. He joined the program as Tight Ends coach in January 2019 after three seasons as Offensive Coordinator at Southern Mississippi. In Dawson’s three seasons as Quarterbacks coach with the Cougars (2020-22), Houston’s quarterbacks combined to throw 87 touchdown passes (13th nationally) behind a 65.3 completion percentage (19th nationally) and 10,008 passing yards (21st nationally). Dawson’s Cougars ranked 8th nationally in passing offense (314.0) in 2022. Houston wide receiver Nathaniel Dell led the nation in receiving touchdowns (17) and receiving yards (1,398) while Matthew Golden set a Houston true freshman record with seven receiving touchdowns. Houston ranked 15th nationally in scoring offense (35.6 points per game), 22nd in first down offense (314), 23rd in passing offense (271.6 yds per game), and 25th in red zone offense (.891). A native of Clinton, LA, Dawson played his college football at Wingate (N.C.) University as a quarterback and wide receiver. He began his coaching career as receivers coach at his alma mater in 2002.

During his four seasons at West Virginia, including his last three as offensive coordinator, Dawson helped build some of the nation’s most prolific offenses. In his final season in Morgantown, West Virginia ranked 12th in the nation in total offense, averaging 499.8 yards per game, and was 9th nationally in passing offense at 317 yards per contest. The Mountaineers averaged 33.5 points per game and set a school record by scoring at least 30 points in eight consecutive games. West Virginia also averaged more than 182 rushing yards per game.

In his final year at Southern Miss (2018), Dawson helped guide the Golden Eagles to become the No. 3 team nationally in completion percentage, completing 69.2 percent of their passes. Sophomore quarterback Jack Abraham ranked 3rd in the league and 22nd nationally with an average of 260.8 passing yards per game while leading the nation with a completion percentage of 73.1 percent and ranking 4th nationally with 24.8 completions per game.

From 2008-2010, Dawson spent time at Stephen F. Austin University as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach. With the Lumberjacks averaging only 16 points a game during a winless 2007 season, Dawson helped orchestrate an amazing turnaround in SFA’s offensive fortunes. In his first season, the Lumberjacks ranked 3rd in the nation in passing offense (4,149 yards), 13th in total offense (4,988 yards), and 14th in scoring offense (35 points per game).

“[Shannon Dawson is] top five, top 10 in several categories and not by accident. He’s done it over a period of years. And again, it starts with being an elite human being and he’s a great connector, so the guys really enjoy being around him.”

Mario Cristobal
Miami Head Coach

“He has done a great job in helping build programs to success on every level…I’ve found out what a strong leader he is and heard nothing but good things about him throughout our profession.”

Mark Stoops
Kentucky Head Coach