RALEIGH, N.C. – Shaw University head football coach Lamar Manigo has announced the completion of the Bears' 2025 coaching staff with the additions of Stephen Tate, Marquis Griffin, and Brodrick Johnson. The trio brings a combined wealth of collegiate, professional, and military experience to the program as Shaw continues preparations for the upcoming season.

 

They join the staff that completed the 2025 spring season consisting of Manigo, Chip Vaughn (Defensive Coordinator), Lawrence Kershaw (Offensive Line/Run Game), Coleman Blackston (Running Back/Video Coordinator) Daniel Bender (Wide Receiver/Special Team Assistants) and Randy Grissom (Kickers/Equipment Manager) 

 

Tate enters the 2025 season as the special teams coordinator and safeties coach after an accomplished coaching and playing career spanning the collegiate, professional, and NFL levels.

Before arriving at Shaw University, Tate spent the 2024 season at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Fla., coaching the nickelbacks. Prior to FAMU, he served two seasons as Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator at Saint Augustine's University (SAU), where he was named Interim Head Coach in 2023. From 2017 to 2020, Tate was the defensive backs coach at Fayetteville State University, where he developed then-unheralded cornerback Joshua Williams into a fourth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft (135th overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs. During his tenure, the Broncos captured three consecutive CIAA Southern Division titles and made three straight CIAA Championship Game appearances. Tate's 2018 secondary ranked ninth nationally in third-down defense and 13th in first-down defense. In 2017, under his guidance, Elvin De La Rosa earned CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the All-CIAA Rookie Team alongside Barnes-Brown.

Before joining the CIAA coaching ranks, Tate worked as a player personnel recruiting intern at the University of Miami (Fla.) in 2017 and served as a defensive backs graduate assistant at St. Lawrence University (2016–2017), where he coached James Holley-Grisham to First-Team All-Liberty League honors.

 

Marquis Griffin, a U.S. Air Force veteran, arrives at Shaw after coaching the Wroclaw Panthers in the European League of Football (ELF), where he led a standout secondary that featured the league's Special Teams Player of the Year and ranked among the leaders in kick and punt return touchdowns. Prior to his overseas success, Griffin played professionally in the German Football League (GFL) with the Saarland Hurricanes while also serving as a defensive backs coach. He began his coaching career under Troy Calhoun at the United States Air Force Academy, bringing a disciplined, detail-oriented approach to player development. Griffin started his coaching career under Troy Calhoun at the Air Force Academy as a defensive graduate assistant (2018-2019), where he worked with the defensive backs, special teams, and provided defensive quality control. Griffin's leadership played an integral role in leading the football team to a #1 NCAA APR rating and the most service academy APR top 10 finishes. Air Force finished #43 in total defense in the NCAA. Griffin displayed recruiting prowess by landing 70% recruits on official visits, leading the team to an 11-2 finish the following year, finishing #22 in the AP Top 25.

 

Johnson, A native of Bishopville, South Carolina. He began his football journey at Lee Central High School, where he was a four-year varsity starter. Recognized as a 3-star defensive recruit, he was ranked the 33rd-best athlete in the district since 1999. His exceptional performance earned him numerous accolades, including All-Area, All-Conference, All-Region, and All-State honors for his standout defensive play. Continuing his football career, Coach Johnson attended Hudson Valley Community College, where he played a pivotal role in leading the team to one of its best records in school history and a berth in the NJCAA National Bowl Game. He later transferred to Norfolk State University, where he earned varsity letters and was honored with the MEAC Student-Athlete Award for his dedication both in academics and athletics. Coach Johnson's talents caught the attention of several NFL teams. He most recently coached at St.Andrews University

"We are excited to officially complete our staff with the additions of Tate, Griffin, and Johnson," said Manigo. "Each of them brings unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that will benefit our student-athletes on and off the field. They are tremendous teachers of the game, and they will help us compete at a high level in the CIAA."