December 10, 2024 – Just two days after parting ways with head football coach Vincent Brown, North Carolina A&T State University has announced the return of Shawn Gibbs as the new leader of the Aggies football program. The announcement, made Friday, marks a homecoming for Gibbs, who previously spent over a decade in Greensboro as an assistant coach.
Gibbs, 49, hails from Black Mountain, N.C., and served as A&T’s running backs and special teams coach for 11 seasons under former head coaches Rod Broadway and Sam Washington. In 2022, he left to take on the head coaching role at Fort Valley State University, where he achieved notable success, leading the Wildcats to a 22-9 record over three seasons.
In a statement on Friday, A&T Director of Athletics Earl M. Hilton III expressed excitement about Gibbs’ return to Greensboro.
A&T fans have fond memories of the exceptional work Shawn did coaching some of the best players in our program’s history, said Hilton. His coaching record speaks for itself, and he has consistently earned respect from his players.
Gibbs will officially step into the role as the Aggies’ 23rd head football coach, with an introductory press conference scheduled for December 18. Reflecting on his appointment, Gibbs described the opportunity as “a dream come true.”
My family and I are thrilled to return home to Greensboro, a place that holds a special place in our hearts, said Gibbs.
The Aggies’ decision to bring Gibbs back comes after a challenging 1-11 season under Vincent Brown, who was relieved of his duties earlier in the week. Brown, a former NFL linebacker and second-round draft pick, had been hired in January 2023 but managed just an 8-15 record over two seasons.