Anthony Shakir was hired as the defensive recruiting coordinator and edges coach in January 2025.

Shakir was a member of App State’s defensive staff from 2018-20, serving as a defensive analyst during an 11-2 season in 2018, then a quality control assistant for the defense during a 13-1 season in 2019 and 9-3 season in 2020.
 
He has been a Division I defensive line coach in each of the previous four seasons, holding that role at ETSU (2021) and Chattanooga (2022-23) before elevating to an FBS defensive line coach at Ball State in 2024.
 
During Shakir’s three seasons in Boone, including two working alongside new App State defensive coordinator DJ Smith, the Mountaineers allowed 15.5 points, 20.0 points and 20.0 points per game while going a combined 33-6 with two Sun Belt Conference titles and three bowl victories.
 
In 2018, App State ranked No. 4 nationally in scoring defense and set a Sun Belt record by allowing only 20 defensive touchdowns.
 
Shakir enjoyed success overseeing defensive lines after leaving Boone following the 2020 season.
 
ETSU’s defensive line accounted for 128 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles during a 2021 season highlighted by a SoCon title, an FCS quarterfinal appearance and an 11-2 final record.
 
Before ranking 11th nationally in sacks per game in 2023, when Chattanooga reached the second round of the FCS playoffs, the Mocs ranked fifth nationally at 3.18 in sacks per game in 2022 during a season in which they also led the SoCon in total defense (322.6 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (108.0 yards allowed per game), tackles for loss (7.4 per game) and fumbles recovered (11). All-America defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell recorded eight sacks under Shakir’s watch in 2022 before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals.
 
Ball State recorded 20 sacks during the 2024 season, led by 5.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss from defensive lineman Riley Tolsma.
 
A native of Loganville, Ga., Shakir had a successful playing career at Division II Brevard College, starting all four years at the outside linebacker position and being named a defensive captain as a senior in 2013. He graduated from Brevard in 2014 from with a degree in psychology, minoring in business and organizational leadership.
 
He coached linebackers and special teams at his alma mater before spending two years as a high school coach and coaching linebackers at the University of Rochester in 2017.
 
Shakir and his wife, Teresa, have two daughters: Josie and Violet.
 
SHAKIR AT A GLANCE
 
Coaching Experience
2014: Brevard (Linebackers/Special teams)
2015-16: Shiloh HS (Linebackers/Special teams)
2017: Rochester (Linebackers)
2018: App State (Analyst – Defense)
2019-20: App State (Quality control – Defense)
2021: ETSU (Defensive line)
2022-23: Chattanooga (Defensive line)
2024: Ball State (Defensive line)
2025: App State (Defensive recruiting coordinator/Edges)
 
Playing Experience
2010-13: Brevard (LB)
 
Alma Mater: Brevard (2014)
Hometown: Loganville, Ga.
Wife: Teresa
Children: Josie, Violet
Twitter: @Coach_Shak