Brandon Shelby Ready to Step into a Bigger Role as Assistant Head Coach

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Brandon Shelby is the longest tenured coach within the Indiana football program as he starts his 11th season with the Hoosiers. He’s been with the program since 2011 when he arrived on Kevin Wilson’s original staff in Bloomington. Earlier this offseason, Indiana head coach Tom Allen promoted Shelby to assistant head coach in addition to coaching the cornerbacks. However, Shelby had bigger long-term goals.

“Ultimately when I first met Coach Tom Allen, he asked me what my long-term goals were, and they were to move up, not just be a corners coach but maybe have the opportunity to be a defensive coordinator then ultimately a head coach somewhere and to have the opportunity to sit in his seat.” Shelby said on a Zoom call Thursday.

The position opened when Mike Hart left IU to become the running backs coach at Michigan. “When the opportunity arose after Mike Hart left, I just thought it was a good opportunity, not from just the coaching side but the administrative side, to see some of the things he has to deal with to get on some panels and to get on some different boards.” Shelby explained.

There are only 12 active Black FBS head coaches and the reason why has been a huge topic of conversation. Opportunity is lacking, so Shelby given this responsibility paves the road toward moving closer to his long term goals of being a defensive coordinator or head coach. Both of Indiana’s coaching staff hires this off season have been Black coaches with Charlton Warren replacing Kane Wommack as defensive coordinator and Deland McCullough as the running backs coach and associate head coach.

“It is a give and take deal and I am just excited for getting this opportunity to go across the hall, to have meetings with the associate athletic directors, the people in facilities, and to learn.” Shelby said. “Now they have this image and brand deal coming out so to sit on these committees and learning will hopefully put me ahead of the curve and when that opportunity comes, I will hopefully jump in and hit the ground running. Thankful he saw that in me and gave me that opportunity.”

Shelby has had a very successful decade-plus at Indiana and has a long list of accomplishments on his resumé including having two All-Big Ten cornerbacks for the first time in school history in the 2020 season. Shelby also completed a Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Houston Texans in June 2017.

The Hoosier cornerbacks room should again be stacked in 2020 as Shelby takes on more responsibilities.