Sources indicated to Football Scoop that Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson "was asked to interview and spoke with Coastal Carolina's contingent in the past 24 hours." Dawson is in his third season with Miami.
Coastal Carolina fired Tim Beck after he was 20-18 in the past three seasons. Dawson has not been a head coach before. Dawson has been an offensive coordinator for every season with the exception of 2019 and 2020 at Houston. Before Miami, Dawson was also the OC at Kentucky and West Virginia at the Power Five level.
In addition to Dawson, Coastal Carolina has spoken with Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, Missouri State head coach Ryan Beard and Navy offensive coordinator Drew Cronic. Nick Rolovich, the former head coach of Washington State, is also expected to emerge as a candidate.
Under Dawson, Miami was first nationally averaging 43.9 points per game and 537.2 yards per game, led by quarterback Cam Ward, the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Dawson adapted his offense in 2025 to Georgia transfer Carson Beck, who is more of a traditional pro-style QB.
Hurricanes offensively coordinator Shannon Dawson reportedly in the mix for the Coastal Carolina head coaching job. https://t.co/n71wvjamqs
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) December 10, 2025
Coastal Carolina was 103rd nationally, averaging 22.8 PPG and 117th, posting 322.2 total yards per game. Wherever Dawson is hired, it will be to improve the program offensively. Coastal Carolina will play in the 2025 Independence Bowl versus Louisiana Tech.
The Chanticleers have declined after winning 22 games and losing three in the 2020 and 2021 seasons combined. Coastal Carolina was 9-3 in the regular season in the final year before Jamey Chadwell left for Liberty.
Beck was hired to replace Chadwell. Dawson has elevated Miami offensively in his three years as OC. It is widely thought that Dawson is ready to be a head coach. Dawson also has to decide which head coaching join and the timing is right for him.