Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
Shockwaves were felt throughout Aggie Nation last week when news first surfaced that A&T was making a leadership change within its football program.
On Wednesday, December 4, the school sent out a midday press release announcing that embattled head coach Vincent Brown had been relieved of his duties after just two seasons, effective immediately.
That bombshell followed days of speculation by A&T alumni on social media that something was possibly in motion.
Less than 48 hours later on Friday, December 6, A&T then announced that a familiar face would be returning to replace Brown – former assistant head coach and running backs coach Shawn Gibbs.
"It is a dream come true for me to accept the position as head football coach at North Carolina A&T State University," said Gibbs in the press release. "My family and I are thrilled to return home to Greensboro, a community with such a special place in our hearts.”
Gibbs, who spent the past three seasons as head coach of Division II Fort Valley State, has quietly built a reputation as one of the top motivators in college football and someone who possesses a keen eye for talent.
Those talents will be full demand when he returns to Greensboro, looks to rebuild an Aggie football program that has struggle mightily since joining the Coastal Athletic Association.
In the past two seasons under Brown, A&T amassed a record of just 2-21. His tenure was marred by a number of lopsided defeats including a 66-24 beatdown by NCCU earlier this season and a 59-17 rout by Hampton on A&T’s homecoming. This past season A&T finished 1-11 and ranked near the bottom off the conference in most offense and defensive statistical categories. Brown was 0-16 against CAA opponents and his lone win against a Division I team came last year at Norfollk State.
Undoubtedly, the constant losing began to affect the psyche of A&T's proud fanbase, which had grown accustomed to a strong football program over the past decade.
In the statement announcing Brown's firing, A&T Director of Athletics Earl Hilton said “restoring our football program to the championship tradition” was a top priority.
By bringing back Gibbs, A&T believe they now have the guy who can do just that.
"A&T fans certainly have fond memories of the outstanding job he did coaching some of the best players in our school's history while also maintaining a high level of respect from those same players,’ said Hilton. “Shawn's coaching history is very impressive.”
A disciple of legendary coach Rod Broadway, Gibbs spent over a decade coaching at A&T from 2011 to 2021, a period many Aggies fans now refer to as The Golden Era.
During that stint the Aggies captured five Mideastern Athletic Conference titles and also won the Celebration Bowl in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
As running backs coach, Gibbs developed some of the greatest rushers in school history including Mike Mayhew, Marquell Cartwright, Jah-Maine Martin and NFL great Tark Cohen.
He left in the spring of 2022 to take his first head coaching job at Fort Valley and immediately found success.
In his debut season, FVSU finished 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In 2023, he led the Wildcats to the Florida Beach Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where Fort Valley State earned a 23-10 win over Johnson C. Smith. Overall, Gibbs posted a 22-9 record in three seasons with FVSU and went 17-6 the SIAC.
"It is obvious he finds a way to get the best out of his players,” Hilton said. “Coach Gibbs understands the challenge ahead and has great enthusiasm and passion for North Carolina A&T. I know he can't wait to get started."
An introductory press conference for Gibbs will be held on December 18, at 11:30 a.m. in the Deese Ballroom inside the A&T campus Student Center.
