In the latest development out of DC, it’s looking like interim Head Coach Shannon Harris will be departing the Defenders. Nothing has been made official yet – but Shannon has been listed on Tennessee State University’s website as their Offensive Coordinator/QB’s Coach for the 2025 season.
When Reggie Barlow left the UFL to take over as Head Coach at TSU, he claimed that he would be bringing DC’s staff with him. That included DC Gregg Williams (who already left back in week three), OC Fred Kaiss, and QB’s coach-turned-HC Shannon Harris.
However, there was never any guarantee that Shannon would be headed to TSU. One would speculate that he would consider sticking in the UFL as Head Coach (if offered), over heading to TSU as a quarterbacks coach.
That said – Fred Kaiss recently turned down the OC offer from Reggie Barlow at TSU. With that development, and the offer from Barlow to Shannon to take the Offensive Coordinator position, it appears that he’s accepted.
Losing Shannon Harris would be a tough blow for the UFL. Harris just won Coach of the Year honors, leading the DC Defenders to a Championship win despite losing Reggie Barlow just a week before kickoff. Harris always left the door open for a return to DC – but now it appears that the door is closing.
“It’d be hard to leave these guys.”
I asked Shannon Harris if tonight’s championship win would be his last game with the Defenders.
His longtime mentor Reggie Barlow accepted the HC job at Tennessee St. earlier this year, and said his staff would join him after the UFL season. pic.twitter.com/cYguk2DZKo
— Matty Fresh (@MattyFreshTV) June 15, 2025
It also looks like Barlow snatched up Deion Harris, who served as DC’s Defensive Line Coach this past season.
We’re still waiting for official word from either Tennessee State, or the UFL, on this matter. As it stands right now – it’s looking more and more like the DC Defenders will need to find a new Head Coach for the 2026 season.
UPDATE: Jake Russell has confirmed that Shannon Harris has taken the job at TSU:
What are your thoughts on this latest development for Shannon Harris, the UFL, and TSU? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
