Football

Shiels enters his fourth season as the defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach, a role he first held for the Saints inaugural season in 2011.

Shiels has led arguably the best defense in SHU history the past two seasons. The 2019 squad helped lead the Saints to a ranking of 20th in the country in the final NAIA Coaches' Poll. The defense ranked fourth in scoring, allowing just 12.1 points/game. The unit was also 12th in total defense by allowing just 293 yards/game. The 2018 defense allowed just 14.1 points/game (2nd NAIA) and 263 yards/game (3rd NAIA). They also finished third in pass defense by giving up 141 yards/game.

Shiels has coached one Cliff Harris Award winner (Darius Price, 2017) and one Cliff Harris Award finalist (Trevon Claybourne, 2019). He also helped coach six first-team All-MSFA and three second-team All-MSFA selections. On the national level, Shiels has led one first-team All-American (Darius Price, 2017) and two honorable mention All-Americans.

During the inaugural season in 2011, the Shiels-led Saints defense held their opponents to 8.3 points per game.

Following 2011, Shiels went to Saline High School to hold the role of defensive coordinator and strength coach. During his time at Saline, the team amassed a record of 41-7.

Shiels coached a defense that gave up an average of no more than 13 points in any season he was at Saline. During his tenure, Saline played for a state championship in 2014 and was ranked in the top 20 in the nation in 2015. During his years there, he coached five All-State defensive players and one First Team Dream Team player. Two of his former defensive standouts also earned scholarships to an NCAA Division I and Division IAA schools.

Prior to his first time at Siena Heights, Shiels coached the outside linebackers and defensive backs at Adrian College. He helped mentor six First Team All-MIAA selections and saw their defense ranked in the top ten in the nation in total defense, points scored, and pass efficiency.

Shiels spent his college days at Adrian College where he was a three-time All-MIAA performer and All-American as a defensive back. He was named the defensive MVP two times and served as a team captain and member of the gridiron squad. Shiels is a native of Britton, Mich. and played his prep football at Britton-Macon High School.