University of Memphis Athletics
Silverfield Adds Sean Dawkins as Running Backs Coach
Mar 21, 2022 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – University of Memphis head football coach Ryan Silverfield announced the hiring of Sean Dawkins as the program's running backs coach on Monday. Dawkins joins the Tigers after spending the last three seasons as the run game coordinator and running backs coach at Charlotte.
"We are very excited to add Sean Dawkins as our running backs coach here at Memphis," Silverfield remarked. "We have had a great history with success in this room and know that Coach Dawkins will continue this tradition. He is a fantastic teacher and leader of men."
Dawkins guided Shadrick Byrd to Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors in 2021. Byrd rushed for 583 yards on 132 carries with three touchdowns and factored in the passing game, reeling in 20 receptions for 248 yards and a pair of scores.
In 2020, Dawkins helped Aaron McCallister earn honorable-mention all-conference honors for the 49ers after rushing for 268 yards and three touchdowns in just six games.
In his first season with Charlotte in 2019, Dawkins oversaw Conference USA's top ranked running game as the 49ers set school records for wins (7), C-USA wins (5) and winning streak (5 games) while earning a trip to the program's first-ever bowl game: Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl.
Charlotte put up a school-record 2,639 rushing yards to lead C-USA and rank 30th in the nation with an average of 203.0 rushing yards/game. The attack was led by First-Team All-Conference USA choice Benny LeMay, who rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second straight season. LeMay ranked second in C-USA with a 98.4 rushing average and led the league with 120.4 all-purpose yards/game. He was chosen by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent immediately after the 2020 NFL Draft.
"What this program has done in recent history has been truly special," Dawkins said. "The tradition of running backs here is just as strong as any program and I'm happy to be here to continue that tradition."
Dawkins was running backs coach at Troy, his alma mater, in 2018. He was running backs coach at Austin Peay during the turnaround season of 2017 and had a one-year stop at Chattanooga in 2014 where he coached alongside Healy.
In 2018, Dawkins helped Troy to a 10-3 mark (7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference) and a 42-32 victory over Buffalo in the Dollar General Bowl. The Trojans rushed for an average of 174.1 yards per game and had 21 rushing touchdowns.
In 2017 at APSU, Dawkins oversaw the nation's sixth-ranked rushing attack at the FCS level. The Govs averaged 258.8 yards per game with 32 rushing touchdowns on its way to an 8-4 record (8-1 vs. FCS foes).
He spent six seasons in two stints at Murray State. He spent four seasons from 2010-2013 before heading to Chattanooga. After helping the Mocs to a 10-4 record in 2014, he returned to Murray State for 2015 and 2016, where he also served as co-run game coordinator in 2016. He also coached at West Texas A&M and Huntingdon College.
As a player, Dawkins led Troy to its first two of five straight Sun Belt Championships in 2006 and 2007. He was also a part of Troy's first two bowl teams: 2004 Silicon Valley Classic; 2006 New Orleans Bowl. He graduated from Troy in 2007 with a degree in social science.
Season tickets for the 2022 University of Memphis football season are now on sale. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets can go to GoTigersGo.com. If you are a current season ticket holder and would like to renew your seats for the 2022 season, you can renew by clicking here.
To request ticket information for the 2022 season, click here. The Memphis Ticket Office can also be reached during business hours at (901) 678-2331.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
"We are very excited to add Sean Dawkins as our running backs coach here at Memphis," Silverfield remarked. "We have had a great history with success in this room and know that Coach Dawkins will continue this tradition. He is a fantastic teacher and leader of men."
Dawkins guided Shadrick Byrd to Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors in 2021. Byrd rushed for 583 yards on 132 carries with three touchdowns and factored in the passing game, reeling in 20 receptions for 248 yards and a pair of scores.
In 2020, Dawkins helped Aaron McCallister earn honorable-mention all-conference honors for the 49ers after rushing for 268 yards and three touchdowns in just six games.
In his first season with Charlotte in 2019, Dawkins oversaw Conference USA's top ranked running game as the 49ers set school records for wins (7), C-USA wins (5) and winning streak (5 games) while earning a trip to the program's first-ever bowl game: Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl.
Charlotte put up a school-record 2,639 rushing yards to lead C-USA and rank 30th in the nation with an average of 203.0 rushing yards/game. The attack was led by First-Team All-Conference USA choice Benny LeMay, who rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second straight season. LeMay ranked second in C-USA with a 98.4 rushing average and led the league with 120.4 all-purpose yards/game. He was chosen by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent immediately after the 2020 NFL Draft.
"What this program has done in recent history has been truly special," Dawkins said. "The tradition of running backs here is just as strong as any program and I'm happy to be here to continue that tradition."
Dawkins was running backs coach at Troy, his alma mater, in 2018. He was running backs coach at Austin Peay during the turnaround season of 2017 and had a one-year stop at Chattanooga in 2014 where he coached alongside Healy.
In 2018, Dawkins helped Troy to a 10-3 mark (7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference) and a 42-32 victory over Buffalo in the Dollar General Bowl. The Trojans rushed for an average of 174.1 yards per game and had 21 rushing touchdowns.
In 2017 at APSU, Dawkins oversaw the nation's sixth-ranked rushing attack at the FCS level. The Govs averaged 258.8 yards per game with 32 rushing touchdowns on its way to an 8-4 record (8-1 vs. FCS foes).
He spent six seasons in two stints at Murray State. He spent four seasons from 2010-2013 before heading to Chattanooga. After helping the Mocs to a 10-4 record in 2014, he returned to Murray State for 2015 and 2016, where he also served as co-run game coordinator in 2016. He also coached at West Texas A&M and Huntingdon College.
As a player, Dawkins led Troy to its first two of five straight Sun Belt Championships in 2006 and 2007. He was also a part of Troy's first two bowl teams: 2004 Silicon Valley Classic; 2006 New Orleans Bowl. He graduated from Troy in 2007 with a degree in social science.
Season tickets for the 2022 University of Memphis football season are now on sale. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets can go to GoTigersGo.com. If you are a current season ticket holder and would like to renew your seats for the 2022 season, you can renew by clicking here.
To request ticket information for the 2022 season, click here. The Memphis Ticket Office can also be reached during business hours at (901) 678-2331.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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