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St. Joseph's University - Long Island

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St. Joseph's University, New York - Long Island

Dave Shan

Flag Football

Dave Shanahan Takes the Helm of Golden Eagles Women's Flag Football

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — St. Joseph's University, New York – Long Island has announced the hiring of Dave Shanahan as the head coach of its women's flag football program.

Shanahan brings more than three decades of coaching experience to St. Joseph's, highlighted by a 30-year tenure as the head football coach at John Glenn High School, where he guided the program to two Long Island Championships and Rutgers Trophy in 2010 after an undefeated season. The team repeated as Long Island champions the following year.

"Dave brings an incredible depth of experience in football, athletics and player development to St. Joseph's," said Executive Director of Athletics Melody Cope. "His accomplishments as both a player and coach, along with his commitment to education and developing student-athletes, make him a tremendous addition to our department. We are excited to have him lead our women's flag football program and look forward to seeing the foundation he builds for our student-athletes." 

During his time at John Glenn, Shanahan coached five players who went on to play in the National Football League, including Ifeanyi Momah, who played for the Arizona Cardinals, and Trevor Coston, who played for the Chicago Bears.

Prior to his coaching career, Shanahan was a standout football player at C.W. Post, where he also competed in lacrosse while majoring in Physical Education. In 1989, he set the school's rushing record at the time with 1,166 yards and earned First Team All-Conference honors. The following season, Shanahan was named a team captain alongside high school teammate Paul Englehardt and helped lead C.W. Post to the 1990 Liberty Conference Championship. Individually, he was named both Liberty Conference Player of the Year and ECAC Player of the Year.

Shanahan began his coaching career as an assistant at C.W. Post before spending the 1992 and 1993 seasons coaching at Stony Brook University, where he also earned his master's degree. He later spent one year teaching and coaching football at Floral Park before beginning his long tenure at John Glenn.

A native of the Sachem community, Shanahan played his high school football under legendary Sachem head coach Fred Fusaro. As a senior, he was named an All-County selection and was a member of the 1987 Sachem football team that was awarded the Rutgers Trophy as the best football team in Suffolk County. That team featured 12 student-athletes who went on to play NCAA football.

In addition to his coaching career, Shanahan was named Athletic Director at John Glenn in 2016 after years of serving as a physical education teacher.

Shanahan's extensive background in football, athletics administration, physical education and player development will provide a strong foundation as he begins his tenure leading the Golden Eagles' women's flag football program.
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