FIU Athletics

Kort Shankweiler enters the 2016 season as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach on the FIU football staff, for the second-straight year, after spending two seasons as the Panthers’ tight ends coach. In addition, Shankweiler was also handed responsibilities as pass-game coordinator.
 
In 2015, under Shankweiler, Alex McGough had one of the top seasons for a quarterback at FIU, setting the single-season records in completions (269), attempts (420), passing yards (2,722) and passing touchdowns (21). The receivers were led by Thomas Owens, who tied the school record for touchdown receptions in a season (8), while setting a new school record with a touchdown catch in six-straight games.
 
During the 2014 season, Shankweiler guided a tight end corps that was led by John Mackey Award Watch List selection and First-Team All-C-USA honoree Jonnu Smith, who tallied 61 catches for 710 yards and eight touchdowns to lead all tight ends nationally.
 
Shankweiler came to FIU in 2013 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 Chippewas 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, Tipton and Anthony Garland, 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.
 
Shankweiler arrived at CMU after two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Michigan State where he was part of Mark Dantonio’s staff. 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 under Bill George where he coached the receivers and served as the video coordinator. The Coast Guard won the New England Football Conference Bogan Division in 2007 and competed in the NEFC Championship Game.
 
Shankweiler, the son of FIU offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Steve 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 Skip Holtz’ Pirates, lining up at quarterback, fullback and tight end during his career and helping lead East Carolina to the 2006 Papajohns.com Bowl.
 
Shankweiler earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Michigan State in 2009. Shankweiler and his wife Aubrey reside in Pembroke Pines, Florida.