Missouri analyst Derek Shay slated to be hired as Marshall tight ends coach

Derek Shay, an offensive analyst at Missouri, is set to be hired as the tight ends coach at Marshall, according to On3‘s Matt Zenitz. Shay is filling the role left open by by Billy Gonzales, who took the job at Marshall in February only to shortly thereafter head to Florida to become the Gators’ wide receivers coach.

Shay, prior to working with Eli Drinkwitz at Missouri for the 2022 season, had been on staff at LSU. There, he was the “de facto” tight ends coach, Zenitz noted.

And before his two-year stint at LSU, Shay had coached tight ends previously, at McNeese State. Before that, he had coached offensive line at IMG Academy, the powerhouse Florida high school. Shay was also an assistant at Bowling Green where he worked under Dino Babers and with Sterlin Gilbert. He also worked at Eastern Illinois, his alma mater. Shay’s got a bevy of experience at a number of levels, schemes and roles.

At Marshall, Shay will work under head coach Charles Huff, who led the Thundering Herd to a 9-4 mark in 2022. The 2023 season will be Year 3 under Huff for Marshall. And it’s a chance for Shay to show off his coaching chops in the Sun Belt.

Marshall ranked 110th nationally in passing offense in 2022 and 17th in rushing offense. Shay will have a chance to work with a position group that can sustain the success on the ground and hopefully play a role in growing the passing attack.

Tennessee expected to hire former Mizzou player Alec Abeln as new TEs coach

Tennessee football hired a new tight ends coach, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. He reported in February that Volunteer head coach Josh Heupel will hire Alec Abeln as the new coach of the tight ends.

“Tennessee is expected to hire Alec Abeln as tight ends coach, sources tell [On3],” Zenitz said. “Abeln has worked at Tennessee as an analyst since 2021 after previously working at Ole Miss. He was an offensive lineman at Missouri when Josh Heupel was Mizzou’s OC.”

Abeln played for Missouri from 2013 to 2017, where he was primarily a left guard, but now is focusing on the tight end position as a young coach. After spending the last two years with Heupel since he took the job, Abeln now gets a big promotion to head of the TE room.