SIMPSON ROUNDS OUT 2021 FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
7/12/2021 1:00:00 PM | Football
MARTIN, Tenn. – University of Tennessee at Martin head coach Jason Simpson has announced three new members to the Skyhawk coaching staff with the addition of Sheldon Dawson (cornerbacks), Devonte Howard (running backs) and Drew Tate (quarterbacks).
Sheldon Dawson – Cornerbacks Coach – UT Martin (2018)
Dawson enters his first season as an assistant coach at UT Martin as the team's cornerbacks coach after previously serving as head coach of Frederick Douglass High School in Memphis.
Prior to his tenure at Douglass High School, Dawson served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Liberty Tech High School for two seasons where he mentored eight all-region selections along with the 2019 Linebacker of the Year and Defensive MVP. Also highlighting his tenure was the program's first defensive shutout against Chester County since 2016 along with forcing eight turnovers against Dyersburg.
Dawson played two seasons at UT Martin from 2015-16 where played in 20 games. During his Skyhawk career he tallied 42 total tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions. His best season came in 2016 when he tallied 41 tackles and two interceptions against Hawai'i and Eastern Illinois.
Prior to his time at UT Martin, he spent three seasons at Georgia (2012-14) where he played in 27 games and earned one start. During his tenure he tallied 28 tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss while earning Georgia Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Dawson prepped at Ridgeway High School where he was the No. 1 recruit in the state of Tennessee and 11th ranked cornerback nationally for the 2012 class. As a multi-position star he was named to the SuperPrep All-America and All-Dixie teams.
Dawson graduated in the fall of 2018 from UT Martin with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Devonte Howard – Running Backs Coach – UT Martin (2018)
Howard enters his first season as an assistant coach at UT Martin as the team's running backs coach after previous serving two season as an offensive graduate assistant at his alma mater.
During his previous role with the Skyhawks, Howard served as an assistant wide receivers coach in 2019 and 2020 helping with the mentorship of All-OVC receivers Colton Dowell and Donnell Williams.
Prior to his coaching career, Howard played in 28 games at UT Martin from 2016-18, tallying 51 career receptions, 552 yards and four touchdowns. His best season came during his senior campaign in which he tallied 38 receptions, 387 yards and three touchdowns out of the slot position. Additionally, he recovered a blocked punt return which he returned for a touchdown as a junior. He also spent one season at Memphis where he did not see game action.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Howard prepped at Bryant High School where he helped lead his squad to a 9-3 record as a senior and a conference championship in 2013. He was second on the team in rushing with 654 yards and four touchdowns while tallying 22 receptions for 312 yards and three touchdowns. He was named all-state as a junior along with being tabbed the team's Outstanding Back.
Howard graduated in the fall of 2018 from UT Martin with a bachelor's degree in sports management.
Drew Tate – Quarterback Coach – Iowa (2008)
Tate enters his first season as an assistant coach at UT Martin as the team's quarterback coach after previously serving in a similar positions in The Spring League and Canadian Football League.
Prior to joining UT Martin, he served as a multi-positional coach for the Alphas of The Spring League in 2020 working with receivers, running backs and tight ends. Before joining the Alphas, he served as the quarterback coach for the BC Lions of the CFL in 2019. With the Lions he directed a quarterback group during the 2019 campaign which completed 68 percent of its pass attempts and eclipsed 4,500 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Previous coaching stops also included a brief stint as a defensive analyst at Coastal Carolina from 2018.
Following his collegiate career, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Rams in 2007 before latching on in the CFL where he spent 11 seasons. His professional playing career featured stops with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Redblacks. He played in 147 games and threw for over 5,000 passing yards and 35 touchdowns in his career while winning a Grey Cup in 2014.
The former Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year played at Iowa from 2003-06 while serving as a three-year starter at quarterback. He left the Hawkeyes ranked second in school history in career touchdown passes (61), completions (665), attempts (1,090) and passing yards (8,292) while sitting third in wins by a starting quarterback with 21. Some of his heroics included a last-second, 56-yard game-winning touchdown to win the 2004 Capital One Bowl against LSU.
A native of Baytown, Texas, Tate was a four-time first-team conference all-star at Robert E. Lee High School. He established Texas high school records for pass completions and attempts while ranking second in passing yards (12,183) and third in touchdowns (113).
Tate graduated from Iowa in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in health and wellness.
Sheldon Dawson – Cornerbacks Coach – UT Martin (2018)
Dawson enters his first season as an assistant coach at UT Martin as the team's cornerbacks coach after previously serving as head coach of Frederick Douglass High School in Memphis.
Prior to his tenure at Douglass High School, Dawson served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Liberty Tech High School for two seasons where he mentored eight all-region selections along with the 2019 Linebacker of the Year and Defensive MVP. Also highlighting his tenure was the program's first defensive shutout against Chester County since 2016 along with forcing eight turnovers against Dyersburg.
Dawson played two seasons at UT Martin from 2015-16 where played in 20 games. During his Skyhawk career he tallied 42 total tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions. His best season came in 2016 when he tallied 41 tackles and two interceptions against Hawai'i and Eastern Illinois.
Prior to his time at UT Martin, he spent three seasons at Georgia (2012-14) where he played in 27 games and earned one start. During his tenure he tallied 28 tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss while earning Georgia Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Dawson prepped at Ridgeway High School where he was the No. 1 recruit in the state of Tennessee and 11th ranked cornerback nationally for the 2012 class. As a multi-position star he was named to the SuperPrep All-America and All-Dixie teams.
Dawson graduated in the fall of 2018 from UT Martin with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Devonte Howard – Running Backs Coach – UT Martin (2018)
Howard enters his first season as an assistant coach at UT Martin as the team's running backs coach after previous serving two season as an offensive graduate assistant at his alma mater.
During his previous role with the Skyhawks, Howard served as an assistant wide receivers coach in 2019 and 2020 helping with the mentorship of All-OVC receivers Colton Dowell and Donnell Williams.
Prior to his coaching career, Howard played in 28 games at UT Martin from 2016-18, tallying 51 career receptions, 552 yards and four touchdowns. His best season came during his senior campaign in which he tallied 38 receptions, 387 yards and three touchdowns out of the slot position. Additionally, he recovered a blocked punt return which he returned for a touchdown as a junior. He also spent one season at Memphis where he did not see game action.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Howard prepped at Bryant High School where he helped lead his squad to a 9-3 record as a senior and a conference championship in 2013. He was second on the team in rushing with 654 yards and four touchdowns while tallying 22 receptions for 312 yards and three touchdowns. He was named all-state as a junior along with being tabbed the team's Outstanding Back.
Howard graduated in the fall of 2018 from UT Martin with a bachelor's degree in sports management.
Drew Tate – Quarterback Coach – Iowa (2008)
Tate enters his first season as an assistant coach at UT Martin as the team's quarterback coach after previously serving in a similar positions in The Spring League and Canadian Football League.
Prior to joining UT Martin, he served as a multi-positional coach for the Alphas of The Spring League in 2020 working with receivers, running backs and tight ends. Before joining the Alphas, he served as the quarterback coach for the BC Lions of the CFL in 2019. With the Lions he directed a quarterback group during the 2019 campaign which completed 68 percent of its pass attempts and eclipsed 4,500 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Previous coaching stops also included a brief stint as a defensive analyst at Coastal Carolina from 2018.
Following his collegiate career, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Rams in 2007 before latching on in the CFL where he spent 11 seasons. His professional playing career featured stops with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Redblacks. He played in 147 games and threw for over 5,000 passing yards and 35 touchdowns in his career while winning a Grey Cup in 2014.
The former Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year played at Iowa from 2003-06 while serving as a three-year starter at quarterback. He left the Hawkeyes ranked second in school history in career touchdown passes (61), completions (665), attempts (1,090) and passing yards (8,292) while sitting third in wins by a starting quarterback with 21. Some of his heroics included a last-second, 56-yard game-winning touchdown to win the 2004 Capital One Bowl against LSU.
A native of Baytown, Texas, Tate was a four-time first-team conference all-star at Robert E. Lee High School. He established Texas high school records for pass completions and attempts while ranking second in passing yards (12,183) and third in touchdowns (113).
Tate graduated from Iowa in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in health and wellness.
Players Mentioned
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