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January 9, 2025Friday, January 10th
January 9, 2025FB: Shakir Returns to App State as Defensive Assistant Coach
Jan. 9, 2025
Contact: Joey Jones (jo*****@ap******.edu)
Secondary contact: Bret Strelow (st******@ap******.edu)
BOONE, N.C. — App State Football head coach Dowell Loggains announced Thursday the hiring of defensive assistant coach Anthony Shakir, marking his return to the High Country.
Shakir was a member of App State’s defensive staff from 2018-20, serving as a defensive analyst during an 11-2 season in 2018, then a quality control assistant for the defense during a 13-1 season in 2019 and 9-3 season in 2020.
He has been a Division I defensive line coach in each of the previous four seasons, holding that role at ETSU (2021) and Chattanooga (2022-23) before elevating to an FBS defensive line coach at Ball State in 2024.
“We’re excited to welcome Anthony and his family back to App State,” Loggains said. “Having coached here during multiple championship years, Anthony is familiar with the standard of excellence on the mountain. He will be a great teacher and mentor for our players.”
During Shakir’s three seasons in Boone, including two working alongside new App State defensive coordinator D.J. Smith, the Mountaineers allowed 15.5 points, 20.0 points and 20.0 points per game while going a combined 33-6 with two Sun Belt Conference titles and three bowl victories.
Demetrius Taylor was a two-time All-Sun Belt performer at defensive end, totaling 16.5 sacks during those three years. With Myquon Stout in the middle of the defensive line in 2018, App State ranked No. 4 nationally in scoring defense and set a Sun Belt record by allowing only 20 defensive touchdowns.
“My family and I are ecstatic about coming back to the place we consider home,” Shakir said. “Thanks to Doug Gillin, Coach Loggains and Coach Smith for the opportunity. We will give our all for App State and this incredible community.”
Shakir has enjoyed success overseeing defensive lines since he left Boone following the 2020 season.
ETSU’s defensive line accounted for 128 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles during a 2021 season highlighted by a SoCon title, an FCS quarterfinal appearance and an 11-2 final record.
Before ranking 11th nationally in sacks per game in 2023, when Chattanooga reached the second round of the FCS playoffs, the Mocs ranked fifth nationally at 3.18 in sacks per game in 2022 during a season in which they also led the SoCon in total defense (322.6 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (108.0 yards allowed per game), tackles for loss (7.4 per game) and fumbles recovered (11). All-America defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell recorded eight sacks under Shakir’s watch in 2022 before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ball State recorded 20 sacks during the 2024 season, led by 5.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss from defensive lineman Riley Tolsma.
A native of Loganville, Ga., Shakir had a successful playing career at Division II Brevard College, starting all four years at the outside linebacker position and being named a defensive captain as a senior in 2013. He graduated from Brevard in 2014 with a degree in psychology, minoring in business and organizational leadership.
He coached linebackers and special teams at his alma mater before spending two years as a high school coach and coaching linebackers at the University of Rochester in 2017.
Shakir and his wife, Teresa, have two daughters: Josie and Violet.
SHAKIR AT A GLANCE
Coaching Experience
2014: Brevard (Linebackers/special teams)
2015-16: Shiloh HS (Linebackers/special teams)
2017: Rochester (Linebackers)
2018: App State (Analyst – Defense)
2019-20: App State (Quality control – Defense)
2021: ETSU (Defensive line)
2022-23: Chattanooga (Defensive line)
2024: Ball State (Defensive Line)
Playing Experience
2010-13: Brevard (LB)
Alma Mater: Brevard, 2014
Hometown: Loganville, Ga.
Wife: Teresa
Children: Josie, Violet
Twitter: @Coach_Shak
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App State Athletics Strategic Communications
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