The FIU football staff is rounding out. Head Coach Ron Turner announced the additions of three coaches to his staff in Kerry Dixon II, Rob Harley and Shannon Moore.
Running the ship
Dixon will join the FIU staff as its running backs coach, after being in the same role for Florida Atlantic University since Jan. 2012.
“Kerry is a very bright young coach, has great communication skills and is a person of high integrity,” Turner said in a statement. “He’s familiar with the South Florida area. He has a lot of connections with a lot of high school coaches which will be a big plus. He’s a really good fit for us.”
Dixon started his collegiate playing career as a quarterback at Baylor University in 2000, and even started two games as a true freshman before moving to receiver the next season and redshirted with an injury. Dixon transferred to Hampton University from Baylor, where he continued to play both receiver and quarterback.
“I’m blessed. New era begins,” wrote Dixon II on his Twitter when commenting on the FIU job.
Linebacker guidance
Rob Harley, a former Ohio State University safety (03-05), will enter his first year at FIU as the linebackers coach. Harley spent the last two seasons as a graduate assistant under Michigan State’s Head Coach Mark Dantonio. Harley was a part of Michigan State’s Rose Bowl winning-team this past season.
Harley was a member of the Buckeyes’ 2002 National Championship team as a safety. During his playing days at Ohio State, his team’s went a combined 29-8 and made it to three-straight bowl games.
“Rob brings a lot energy and passion to everything that he does,” Turner said. “He’s going to have a great future in this business.” He played for and worked under great coaches at Ohio State and Michigan State and gained a lot of valuable experience. At Michigan State where they had the No. 1 defense in the nation, he had a couple of years under two coaches that I have a lot of respect for in Mark Dantonio and Pat Narduzzi. He’s a very bright and energetic, up-and-coming, young coach that will be a star in this business.”
Special team lookover
After eight seasons and many different positions at South Dakota State University, Shannon Moore comes to FIU to serve as the special teams coach.
Moore’s latest position with SDSU was that of special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. He was also the running backs and tight ends coach from 2006-08, before taking on the task of special teams coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the 2009 season.
Moore’s career began at SDSU when he served as a graduate assistant during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, working with the running backs, tight ends and special teams.
“Shannon brings a lot of special teams experience,” Turner said. “He was at South Dakota State for eight years as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. I almost hired him last year, so he was the first person we thought of when the position opened up. He’s very knowledgeable in terms of special teams, a great communicator and is very passionate.”
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