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Miami OC Shannon Dawson Potential Candidate for Oklahoma State HC opening

Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has frequently been mentioned as a candidate to be the head coach at Oklahoma State, who parted with Mike Gundy on Tuesday.
ByAlan Rubenstein|
Sep 7, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson looks on from the sideline against the Florida A&M Rattlers during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson looks on from the sideline against the Florida A&M Rattlers during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson has emerged as one of multiple candidates to be the head coach at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys fired head coach Mike Gundy on Tuesday in his 21st season after he led Oklahoma State to a 170–90 overall record and 102–72 in the Big XII.

Dawson is in his third season as the Miami offensive coordinator. Miami led the nation in scoring and total offense in 2024. Chris Hummer of CBS Sports named Dawson as one of eight potential candidates on his hot board of potential replacements for Gundy.

The other potential candidates named by Hummer include three head coaches and four other offensive coordinators. Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who was the head coach for 13 years at Houston and West Virginia, was one of the potential candidates named by Hummer.

Miami is currently 39th nationally, averaging 36.8 points per game and 34th, posting 450.5 yards per game. After relying on quarterback Cam Ward and the pass in 2024, Miami has leaned on the run in 2025. Dawson has shown the ability to adapt his play calling to the personnel.

"Dawson is on the track to be a FBS head coach this cycle. It's just a matter of where and if he finds the right fit. Dawson has emerged as one of the sport's preeminent play callers the last few seasons, successfully guiding Houston (2022) and Miami (2023-24) to top 25 offenses each of the last three seasons. Dawson's shown apt quarterback development and is known as a plus recruiter. Dawson, a Louisiana native, is also a geographic fit for the Cowboys from a recruiting standpoint."
Chris Hummer, CBS Sports.

The experience coaching at Houston and being a Louisiana native would help Dawson recruit at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys have over 30 players from Texas and two from Louisiana on their roster. Dawson could potentially open Louisiana as a more significant recruiting base for Oklahoma State.

The first full-time Division I coaching job for Dawson was at Stephen F. Austin as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2008 through 2010. Holgerson hired Dawson for his first job in the Football Bowl Subdivision as the inside wide receivers coach at West Virginia in 2011.

The success Dawson has had as an offensive coordinator over the past four seasons has put him on a career trajectory to eventually become a head coach. Oklahoma State has a history of success, primarily under Gundy, that should make the Cowboys an attractive job.

How seriously Dawson is considered for Oklahoma State could depend on if the Cowboys want to hire a candidate who has previously been a head coach. Purdue head coach Barry Odom, who previously coached at Missouri and UNLV is the only other candidate named by Hummer who has led a power conference program.

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