Quinn Named Liberty’s New Defensive Coordinator
1/3/2026 4:18:00 PM | Football
Shawn Quinn, a seasoned veteran on the defensive side of the field, has been named Liberty's new Defensive Coordinator and Outside Linebackers Coach.
Quinn joins the Flames' coaching staff following four seasons at Virginia Tech. His near three decade coaching career includes stops at LSU, Tennessee, Georgia Southern, Louisiana and three seasons as the head coach at Savannah State.
His coaching stops have allowed Quinn to coach in six bowl games and work with NFL standouts like 11-time Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten and first round draft pick defensive end Tyson Jackson.
Quinn is no stranger to the Defensive Coordinator position, having held the same role at Savannah State (2018-21), Tennessee Tech (2016), Western Carolina (2013-15), Charleston Southern (2012) and Northwestern State (2009).
During his time at Virginia Tech, Quinn coached the SAM linebacker/Nickels position in 2022, the Stars/Nickels position in 2023-24 and the Outside Linebacker position in 2025.
During the 2024 season, Quinn coached Star Keonta Jenkins, who finished the season with 65 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and an interception. The standout year allowed Jenkins to sign as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills for the 2025 season.
Prior to his coaching stop in Blacksburg, Quinn spent four years at Savannah State, including three seasons as the Tigers' head coach (2019-21).
As head coach, Quinn guided Savannah State to a 16-6 record, helping the program transition from the FCS level to the NCAA Division II ranks.
In 2021, the Tigers finished the year with an 8-2 record, the program's most wins in 26 seasons. Savannah State finished the year ranked No. 8 in the country in total defense (249.8 yards per game allowed).
Due to COVID-19, Savannah State did not play any games during the fall season in 2020 and posted a 1-1 record in limited play during the spring 2021 season.
During his first year as head coach, Quinn guided Savannah State to a 7-3 record, posting the program's first winning season since 1998. He became the second head coach in Savannah State's 100-year history to record a winning season during their first year as head coach of the program.
Quinn guided Savannah State to a 5-0 record in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference while winning the SIAC East Division title.
Quinn was named the 2019 Black College Sports Network Coach of the Year after the Tigers finished the season ranked No. 8 in the BOXTOROW HBCU Top 10 Poll. The Tigers posted the conference's top scoring defense in 2019 (21.1 points allowed per game).
Under Quinn's leadership, the Tigers boasted 15 all-conference players in two full seasons of competition, including 2019 conference Freshman of the Year running back Einaj Carter.
Prior to being named the 26th head coach in Savannah State history, Quinn served as the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach for the Tigers during the 2018 season. His defense finished the year No. 3 in the country in pass defense (138.5 yards allowed per game).
Quinn worked as a defensive analyst at The Citadel during the 2017 season where he assisted with defensive game-planning and opponent preparation. He also ran analysis on opponent tendencies during his time with the Bulldogs.
During the 2016 season, Quinn served as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at Tennessee Tech. Under Quinn, the Golden Eagles improved their scoring defense by 7.2 points per game allowed from the 2015 season, including an 11.0-ppg improvement in conference play.
Before arriving at Tennessee Tech, Quinn spent three years as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Western Carolina (2013-15). He held the same roles at Charleston Southern in 2012.
Quinn served as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Georgia Southern from 2010-11. Prior to that stop, Quinn worked as the co-defensive coordinator at Northwestern State in 2009.
Quinn served as the defensive ends coach at LSU during the 2008 season where he helped DE Tyson Jackson earn second-team All-SEC honors. Jackson was the third overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by Kansas City.
Prior to his time in Baton Rouge, Quinn served as the defensive line coach at Louisiana from 2002-08. He helped the Ragin' Cajuns win the 2005 Sun Belt Championship and coached six Sun Belt all-conference defensive lineman.
Quinn's collegiate coaching career began in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Tennessee where he worked with the offensive line and special teams.
Quinn was part of the staff that led the Volunteers to the 2001 SEC East Division title and three bowl appearances after beginning his coaching career in the collegiate ranks.
A four-year starter on the defensive line at Carson-Newman, Quinn helped lead the Eagles to four straight conference championships.
Quinn graduated in 1995 with a degree in history and political science. He then earned his master's degree in 1998 from Lincoln Memorial.
The Quinn File
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
High School: Wheaton North
College: Carson-Newman (1995) / Lincoln Memorial (1998)
Playing Exp: Carson-Newman (1992-95)
Family: Daughters – Emily, Grace, Abby
Coaching History
2025: Virginia Tech (Outside Linebackers)
2023-24: Virginia Tech (Stars/Nickels)
2022: Virginia Tech (Sam Linebackers/Nickels)
2019-21: Savannah State (Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator)
2018: Savannah State (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2017: The Citadel (Defensive Analyst)
2016: Tennessee Tech (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator)
2013-15: Western Carolina (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2012: Charleston Southern (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2010-11: Georgia Southern (Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator)
2009: Northwestern State (Co-Defensive Coordinator)
2008: LSU (Defensive Ends)
2002-07: Louisiana (Defensive Line)
1999-2001: Tennessee (Graduate Assistant - Offensive Line/Special Teams)
1996-99: Maryville High School (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line)
1995: Armuchee High School (Outside Linebackers/Tight Ends)
"Shawn Quinn brings a defensive mindset built on accountability, preparation and effort. He connects with players, demands the right things and puts them in position to succeed. Liberty is getting an outstanding leader that will be at tremendous asset to their program."
Bud Foster, Virginia Tech former Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator
"Shawn Quinn was the first job offer I made after accepting the head coaching position at Virginia Tech. He is a fantastic coach, person and defensive mind. Shawn has an incredible work ethic, is a tenacious recruiter and a very experienced defensive play caller. This is a great opportunity for Shawn and also a tremendous hire for Coach Chadwell and the Liberty Football program!"
Brent Pry, Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator and former Head Coach
Quinn joins the Flames' coaching staff following four seasons at Virginia Tech. His near three decade coaching career includes stops at LSU, Tennessee, Georgia Southern, Louisiana and three seasons as the head coach at Savannah State.
His coaching stops have allowed Quinn to coach in six bowl games and work with NFL standouts like 11-time Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten and first round draft pick defensive end Tyson Jackson.
Quinn is no stranger to the Defensive Coordinator position, having held the same role at Savannah State (2018-21), Tennessee Tech (2016), Western Carolina (2013-15), Charleston Southern (2012) and Northwestern State (2009).
During his time at Virginia Tech, Quinn coached the SAM linebacker/Nickels position in 2022, the Stars/Nickels position in 2023-24 and the Outside Linebacker position in 2025.
During the 2024 season, Quinn coached Star Keonta Jenkins, who finished the season with 65 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and an interception. The standout year allowed Jenkins to sign as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills for the 2025 season.
Prior to his coaching stop in Blacksburg, Quinn spent four years at Savannah State, including three seasons as the Tigers' head coach (2019-21).
As head coach, Quinn guided Savannah State to a 16-6 record, helping the program transition from the FCS level to the NCAA Division II ranks.
In 2021, the Tigers finished the year with an 8-2 record, the program's most wins in 26 seasons. Savannah State finished the year ranked No. 8 in the country in total defense (249.8 yards per game allowed).
Due to COVID-19, Savannah State did not play any games during the fall season in 2020 and posted a 1-1 record in limited play during the spring 2021 season.
During his first year as head coach, Quinn guided Savannah State to a 7-3 record, posting the program's first winning season since 1998. He became the second head coach in Savannah State's 100-year history to record a winning season during their first year as head coach of the program.
Quinn guided Savannah State to a 5-0 record in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference while winning the SIAC East Division title.
Quinn was named the 2019 Black College Sports Network Coach of the Year after the Tigers finished the season ranked No. 8 in the BOXTOROW HBCU Top 10 Poll. The Tigers posted the conference's top scoring defense in 2019 (21.1 points allowed per game).
Under Quinn's leadership, the Tigers boasted 15 all-conference players in two full seasons of competition, including 2019 conference Freshman of the Year running back Einaj Carter.
Prior to being named the 26th head coach in Savannah State history, Quinn served as the Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers coach for the Tigers during the 2018 season. His defense finished the year No. 3 in the country in pass defense (138.5 yards allowed per game).
Quinn worked as a defensive analyst at The Citadel during the 2017 season where he assisted with defensive game-planning and opponent preparation. He also ran analysis on opponent tendencies during his time with the Bulldogs.
During the 2016 season, Quinn served as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at Tennessee Tech. Under Quinn, the Golden Eagles improved their scoring defense by 7.2 points per game allowed from the 2015 season, including an 11.0-ppg improvement in conference play.
Before arriving at Tennessee Tech, Quinn spent three years as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Western Carolina (2013-15). He held the same roles at Charleston Southern in 2012.
Quinn served as linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Georgia Southern from 2010-11. Prior to that stop, Quinn worked as the co-defensive coordinator at Northwestern State in 2009.
Quinn served as the defensive ends coach at LSU during the 2008 season where he helped DE Tyson Jackson earn second-team All-SEC honors. Jackson was the third overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by Kansas City.
Prior to his time in Baton Rouge, Quinn served as the defensive line coach at Louisiana from 2002-08. He helped the Ragin' Cajuns win the 2005 Sun Belt Championship and coached six Sun Belt all-conference defensive lineman.
Quinn's collegiate coaching career began in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Tennessee where he worked with the offensive line and special teams.
Quinn was part of the staff that led the Volunteers to the 2001 SEC East Division title and three bowl appearances after beginning his coaching career in the collegiate ranks.
A four-year starter on the defensive line at Carson-Newman, Quinn helped lead the Eagles to four straight conference championships.
Quinn graduated in 1995 with a degree in history and political science. He then earned his master's degree in 1998 from Lincoln Memorial.
The Quinn File
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
High School: Wheaton North
College: Carson-Newman (1995) / Lincoln Memorial (1998)
Playing Exp: Carson-Newman (1992-95)
Family: Daughters – Emily, Grace, Abby
Coaching History
2025: Virginia Tech (Outside Linebackers)
2023-24: Virginia Tech (Stars/Nickels)
2022: Virginia Tech (Sam Linebackers/Nickels)
2019-21: Savannah State (Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator)
2018: Savannah State (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2017: The Citadel (Defensive Analyst)
2016: Tennessee Tech (Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator)
2013-15: Western Carolina (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2012: Charleston Southern (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2010-11: Georgia Southern (Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator)
2009: Northwestern State (Co-Defensive Coordinator)
2008: LSU (Defensive Ends)
2002-07: Louisiana (Defensive Line)
1999-2001: Tennessee (Graduate Assistant - Offensive Line/Special Teams)
1996-99: Maryville High School (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line)
1995: Armuchee High School (Outside Linebackers/Tight Ends)
"Shawn Quinn brings a defensive mindset built on accountability, preparation and effort. He connects with players, demands the right things and puts them in position to succeed. Liberty is getting an outstanding leader that will be at tremendous asset to their program."
Bud Foster, Virginia Tech former Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator
"Shawn Quinn was the first job offer I made after accepting the head coaching position at Virginia Tech. He is a fantastic coach, person and defensive mind. Shawn has an incredible work ethic, is a tenacious recruiter and a very experienced defensive play caller. This is a great opportunity for Shawn and also a tremendous hire for Coach Chadwell and the Liberty Football program!"
Brent Pry, Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator and former Head Coach
Solmaz Chadwell: The Journey
Tuesday, December 16
In the Fire: Brylan Green's Last Chapter
Tuesday, December 09
Coach Chadwell Gives An Update On Signing Day
Wednesday, December 03
Coach Chadwell Talks About The KSU Game
Sunday, November 30