Reggie Barlow continues to assemble a strong staff for his first year at Tennessee State.
The longtime HBCU coach has hired D.C. Defenders UFL championship coach Shannon Harris as the Tigers offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. PFNewsroom reporter James Larson first reported the move.
Harris, a Tennessee State alumnus, enjoyed a meteoric rise with the DC Defenders in the United Football League, culminating in a commanding championship win over the Michigan Panthers earlier this summer. Initially serving as the Defenders’ quarterbacks coach, Harris stepped into the interim role following Barlow’s departure.
“It’s an honor to be back at Tennessee State, where I started as a player and a coach. Coach Barlow has a vision, and I’m excited to help continue the winning tradition,” Harris said in a statement.
Another addition to the TSU football staff, Florida Memorial coach Toriano Morgan, was surprising.
Morgan, a former Tennessee State player, most recently earned acclaim for leading Edward Waters to its first winning season in two decades. On Wednesday, he shockingly announced his resignation days after an appearance at SIAC Media Day.
Morgan will serve as the TSU running backs coach, according to the team’s website.
Barlow’s aggressive approach to assembling his staff is a move to accelerate the progress of a program that lost Eddie George to Bowling Green and 46 players to the transfer portal in the offseason.
Fans will get their first look at the new Tennessee State Tigers coaching staff when the team opens its season August 30 in the John Merritt Classic.