Shaw University left a holiday present under the tree for its fans: a new head football coach. Greg Ruffin was announced as the new leader of the Bears program in a press release issued on Christmas Eve.
Ruffin is a familiar name to Shaw fans. He coached the Bears in 2002 when the school relaunched its football program. He has held a variety of head coaching and assistant coaching positions since then. Ruffin replaces Adrian Jones, who was dismissed as head coach earlier this month.
“I am honored to return to Shaw University and lead the Bears football program,” Ruffin said. “This is a special place with a rich history, and I look forward to building upon its legacy. Together, we will strive for excellence on the field, in the classroom, and within the community.”
Shaw will formally introduce Ruffin during a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 11 a.m.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Ruffin back to Shaw University,” said George Knox, Shaw University’s Athletic Director. “His energy, experience, and vision for the future of our football program align perfectly with our mission. Coach Ruffin’s commitment to developing student-athletes and building a championship culture makes him the ideal leader for the Bears.”
Shaw went 7-3 during the 2002 campaign under Ruffin’s leadership. The Bears were considered a club program that season.
Greg Ruffin: Lengthy coaching journey
Ruffin has been a college football coach for most of the last three decades – at the Division II and NAIA levels as a head coach and FCS level as a position coach. He also has high school experience.
Ruffin most recently served as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator for Eddie Robinson Jr. at FCS Alabama State in 2022. He has been a college head coach at Edward Waters (2018-2020), Texas College (2016) and Paine College (2014). He directed the Blytheville High program in Arkansas in 2021.
Other assistant coaching stops for Ruffin, per his Wikipedia page, include:
- Bethune-Cookman (tight ends coach, 2017);
- Texas Southern (tight ends, recruiting coordinator, 2012);
- Jackson State (running backs, recruiting coordinator, 2006-11);
- Tuskegee (running backs, 2005);
- Ouachita Baptist (defensive assistant, 2004);
- Lincoln University, MO (offensive coordinator, wide receivers, 1999-2000);
- Kemper Military, MO (running backs, 1997-98)
- Jackson Central-Merry High School, TN (running backs, 1996).
Ruffin played quarterback and fullback at Lane College from 1993-95.
As a varsity collegiate head coach, Ruffin is 7-35 all-time. He’s 2-8 as a high school head coach and 7-3 at the club level with Shaw.
NC college football coaching carousel: ninth and final change?
Ruffin becomes the ninth new college football head coach hired in this cycle. He’s the second from the CIAA, joining former Shaw coach Adrian Jones, who was appointed to take over the Elizabeth City State program last week.
Five FBS programs have turned to new leadership: North Carolina (Bill Belichick), Wake Forest (Jake Dickert), East Carolina (Blake Harrell), Charlotte (Tim Albin) and Appalachian State (Dowell Loggains). Two FCS programs have made head coaching changes: North Carolina A&T (Shawn Gibbs) and Davidson (Saj Thakkar).
Will there be any other coaching changes before spring football? Nothing appears imminent but the coaching carousel spun into January last year when Mike Jacobs left Lenoir-Rhyne to take the Mercer job, which opened up when its head coach, Drew Cronic, left to become offensive coordinator at Navy.
