Turner Finalizes Football Staff with Kort Shankweiler

FIU football Head Coach Ron Turner has announced the hiring of Kort Shankweiler as the Panthers' new tight ends and offensive tackles coach.

Shankweiler comes to FIU after spending three seasons as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Central Michigan University. During his three seasons with CMU, Shankweiler would guide a unit that saw improvement each year. In his final 2012 campaign, where the Chippewa's would finish with a victory over Western Kentucky in the Little Caesars Bowl, his position accounted for 1,952 rushing yards, averaged 150.2 yards on the ground per game with 22 rushing touchdowns. He also mentored running back Zurlon Tipton, who recorded 1,779 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns culminating with All-MAC honors.

In 2011, CMU had 1,389 team rushing yards using an attack by a committee of four players. Three of the running backs in 2011, Paris Cotton, Anthony Garland and Tipton, posted 100-yard rushing games. In 2010, Shankweiler mentored a corps of running backs that combined to rush for 1,269 yards and 18 touchdowns. Cotton provided the 2010 season's top highlight, rushing for 209 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries in a 52-14 win at Eastern Michigan. It was the first 200-yard effort for a Chippewa since 2004 and the 31st in school history.

Prior to CMU, Shankweiler spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Michigan State where he was part of the same staff as future CMU head coach Dan Enos. He worked with the Spartans' offensive linemen during seasons where the school played in the 2009 Capital One Bowl and the 2010 Alamo Bowl.

Relating to Shankweiler's areas, the 2009 Spartans led the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed (14 in 13 games) and passing efficiency (145.1), ranked second in scoring (29.7 ppg) and passing (269.4 ypg) and ranked third total offense (406.2 ypg).

Shankweiler spent the 2007 season as an assistant coach at the United States Coast Guard Academy where he coached the receivers and served as the video coordinator. Coast Guard won the New England Football Conference Bogan Division in 2007 and competed in the NEFC Championship Game.

Shankweiler is a 2006 graduate of East Carolina where he earned bachelor degrees in history and classical studies. He was a four-year letterman for the Pirates, lining up at quarterback, fullback and tight end during his career and helping lead East Carolina to the 2006 Papajohns.com Bowl. As a fullback, he served as the lead blocker for current Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson. Shankweiler earned a master's degree in sports administration from Michigan State in 2009.

His father, Steve, is currently the FIU offensive line coach and run-game coordinator.