Shaw University

Former Shaw defensive standout Gerald Kennedy begins his second season in his second stint as cornerbacks coach at his alma mater after an impactful first season.

In 2022, Kennedy helped direct a secondary unit that ranked fourth nationally in interceptions during the regular season. The Bears led the CIAA with 16 interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. Jaden Clark led the team with four pickoffs.

Kennedy first joined the Shaw coaching staff as a graduate assistant football coach in 2012 and became a full-time assistant coach in 2013. 

It immediately paid off dividends. The cornerbacks unit was a defensive strength under Kennedy, who was a star defensive back at Shaw.  He coached Darrell Evans, a 2013 All-American and All-CIAA player who was named BOXTOROW and HSRN HBCU Defensive Player of the Year. Evans led the nation in NCAA Division II in interceptions.

That same year in 2013, Chris Ellerbe ranked No. 3 in Division II in interceptions and the Shaw defense ranked No. 4 in Division II in team interceptions.

Between his first and second stints at Shaw, Kennedy coached on the high school level. As defensive coordinator at Enloe High School in 2018, he helped lead the football team to an 8-0 record for the first time in school history and a NCHSAA state playoff berth.

The following season, Kennedy was elevated to interim head football coach at Enloe but the season was cut short due to the COVID pandemic. He is currently the Enloe head track & field coach.

As a student-athlete, Kennedy finished his collegiate football career at Shaw after transferring from Appalachian State. His biggest highlight was during the 2010 CIAA Championship game when he recorded two interceptions. 

Kennedy made one of the game's biggest plays when he intercepted a pass in the end zone in the closing minutes to preserve a 14-7 Shaw victory over Virginia State for the conference crown.

A Greensboro, N.C., native, Kennedy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a minor in Accounting at Shaw.

As a high school player, Kennedy was a football and track standout at Dudley High School. Playing quarterback and defensive back, he helped guide the Panthers to NCHSAA state 3-AA championship game. He played for the West team in the N.C. East-West All-Star Football Game.