North Carolina A&T formally welcomed Shawn Gibbs as its 23rd head football coach on Wednesday and unveiled the 2025 schedule the new leader of Aggieland will face next fall.
Gibbs, a familiar face on campus, steps into a program rich with history and high expectations as he begins a new chapter for A&T football.
Meet Shawn Gibbs
Athletic Director Earl M. Hilton III introduced Gibbs to the A&T community during a ceremony in the Student Center’s Deese Ballroom. Gibbs brings head coaching experience from Fort Valley State University, where he led the program to a 22-9 record over three seasons, including a 17-6 mark in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
This isn’t Gibbs’ first stint at A&T. From 2011 to 2021, he served as the Aggies’ running backs coach and special teams coordinator, mentoring legends like Tarik Cohen, Mike Mayhew, and Marquell Cartwright, and overseeing record-setting special teams talent such as Khris Gardin and Tony McRae.
Now tasked with leading the Aggies into the future, Gibbs emphasized a commitment to discipline, excellence, and the legacy of A&T football. “We are going to have a disciplined football team. We’ve got to have an edge to us, a controlled edge,” said Gibbs. “Anything you can do, you can do it from right here at A&T. I can go on and on and tell you about all the greats that have walked this campus, but I would be here all day. As coaches and players, you are representing all of those who came before you and leaving your own legacy.”
2025 North Carolina A&T Schedule Highlights
Coach Gibbs’ debut season will kick off with a challenging non-conference schedule, starting on the road at Tennessee State on August 30. The matchup with the rising Big South/OVC program, coached by former Ohio State and Tennessee Titans great Eddie George, promises to be a test for the Aggies. Tennessee State went 9-4 in 2024 and made the FCS playoffs.
The Aggies’ second game will be their first-ever trip to Central Florida (UCF) on September 6, taking on a Big 12 opponent in a significant early-season challenge.
A&T’s non-conference slate continues with two rivalry games: a home contest against archrival North Carolina Central on September 20 and a matchup with former MEAC foe South Carolina State on October 11. The Aggies lost both of those games this past season in lopsided fashion.
The CAA portion of the schedule includes home games against Hampton, Campbell, Monmouth, and Towson, while road trips to Maine, William & Mary, Stony Brook, and Elon round out the league play. The Aggies avoid several of the top teams in the conference from 2024, including Villanova, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, making the path potentially more manageable in 2025.
A&T’s 2025 schedule features seven road games and six home dates, providing a mix of familiar rivals and fresh challenges for Coach Gibbs and his team.
2025 North Carolina A&T Football Recruiting Update
The Aggies did not announce publicly any signings on National Signing Day earlier this month. But don’t expect the cupboard to remain bare for long with momentum building behind Gibbs.
Offensive lineman Phinnell Marshall announced Wednesday he is transferring to NC A&T from Gardner-Webb. He played his high school football at West Charlotte. Another offensive lineman from the portal, Tyson Moorer, committed to the Aggies after playing this past season at East Tennessee State. Transfer edge rusher Anthony Murphy II pledged to A&T on Tuesday. He was at Howard last season.
2025 North Carolina A&T Football Schedule
Aug. 30 – at Tennessee State
Sept. 6 – at UCF
Sept. 13 – HAMPTON*
Sept. 20 – NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
Sept. 27 – at Maine*
Oct. 4 – at William & Mary*
Oct. 11 – SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
Oct. 18 – BYE
Oct. 25 – CAMPBELL*
Nov. 1 – TOWSON*
Nov. 8 – at Stony Brook*
Nov. 15 – MONMOUTH*
Nov. 22 – at Elon*
*Denotes CAA game
