The ETSU football team welcomed Anthony Shakir to their coaching staff as the new defensive line coach.
Shakir previously spent the last three seasons at Appalachian State University as the assistant defensive line coach where the team won two Sun Belt Championships and three bowl games.
“I chose ETSU mainly because I was the assistant defensive line coach at ASU, so I wanted to come to a place where I could be the full-time guy, where I was the only guy and really run the whole room by myself. Not only that but to work with Coach Sanders and Coach Taylor,” said Shakir.
Shakir was initially attracted to the city’s “up-and-coming” allure and its location in the mountains. After talking to Randy Sanders, the head coach of the ETSU football team, he said it wasn’t hard to sell him on the idea of becoming a Buccaneer.
He started playing football when he was six years old. Coming from a football family, he’s been around it since he was a little boy and defense has always been his niche.
“I wasn’t big enough to be an offensive lineman, I wasn’t really fast so I couldn’t be a running back, and I didn’t really catch well so I couldn’t be a receiver or tight end; so nothing really suited me to be an offensive player,” said Shakir. “Being a defensive guy, I was pretty physical, I could tackle well. I liked being the guy that was hitting instead of getting hit. I was always drawn to defense. I never really had an interest in playing offense.”
The coaches and players of ETSU have sparked an interest in Shakir as he furthers his coaching career.
“Guys on the staff have won super bowls, national championships at a college level,” said Shakir. “As a young coach really learning from those people and what it takes to get to that level of winning and winning consistently at a high level but doing so in the right way. The character of those men is just awesome; that excites me about working with them every day.”
Shakir is looking forward to working with the players, but keeping their individuality and approach to the game by being a guide for them.
“Hopefully being a leader to them and being a man that they would want to look up to. Showing them what a good father, husband and man looks like. Those things combined is what excites me the most about working here.” said Shakir.
Coach Shakir is ready to learn and grow with the ETSU football team as they prepare for the upcoming season.
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