by Cedric “BIG CED” Thornton
January 10, 2025
The new head coach returns to the university after previously holding the position of offensive coordinator for the Bears from 2016 to 2021
Shaw University announced it is bringing back a former employee to lead its football program.
The HBCU has hired Lamar Manigo as the new head coach of the Shaw Bears. He returns to Shaw University, where he previously held the Bears' offensive coordinator position from 2016 to 2021, when he led the team to some of their best statistical offensive seasons in school history.
Shaw University Names Lamar Manigo Head Football Coach https://t.co/aA9LYPh1lg #ShawU | #BearWithUs
— Shaw Athletics (@ShawBears) January 7, 2025
“I am honored and excited to return to Shaw University as head football coach,” Manigo said in a written statement. “This is a homecoming for me and I look forward to working with our talented student-athletes to develop a program that will make our university and our alumni proud.”
The head coach returns to Shaw after a stint at another HBCU, Virginia State University, where he served as associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He played an important role in the school's resurgence as they recently appeared in the 2024 CIAA Championship Game as the number one seed, where they lost a close game to Virginia Union 17-13, allowing Virginia Union to become champions again.
“We are pleased to welcome coach Lamar Manigo back to Shaw University,” said Director of Athletics George Knox. “His passion for the game, commitment to mentoring student-athletes and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our vision for the football program. We are confident he will lead the Bears to new heights.”
Manigo has a proven track record of success and is committed to developing the skills of student-athletes on and off the field.
The university has scheduled a press conference to introduce Manigo as the new head coach on January 21, 2025, where he will discuss his plans to lead the program to success.
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