Dr. Shannon will replace Terry Unruh in the role after Unruh announced his retirement from ORU earlier this summer following his 44 years of service.
“Dr. Shannon consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to the holistic development of our student-athletes,” said University President Dr. William M. Wilson. “He is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, promoting responsible behavior, and ensuring NCAA rules and regulations compliance. Terry profoundly understands the unique challenges and opportunities of being a student-athlete. He will work tirelessly to create an environment that supports our athletes in achieving their full potential, both on the field and in the classroom.”
Dr. Shannon has spent more than 11 years at ORU and will begin his first year as the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative. In this role, he will ensure the academic integrity and institutional control of the ORU athletic department. Dr. Shannon will serve as the liaison between ORU's athletic department and the academic faculty and assist all Golden Eagle student-athletes in their academic endeavors.
“Dr. Shannon has faithfully served this university over the last 11 years, and there is no one better suited to fill the gap left by Terry Unruh,” said Athletic Director Tim Johnson. “His experience as a head coach and professor positions him perfectly to continue assisting the athletic department on its journey of excellence. We are truly blessed to have him as part of our ORU Community.”
Dr. Shannon is an associate professor of sports management at ORU, where he has been teaching since 2013. He has served on several committees and is currently the assessment coordinator for the Health, Leisure, and Sport Sciences department. He works with both the undergraduate and graduate sports management programs. He has been recognized multiple times as an Outstanding Faculty Member and was selected as the Sports Professional of the Year in 2019 by Shape America. Dr. Shannon served on the Oklahoma Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance state board, including the President of OAHPERD in 2016-17.
Prior to ORU, Dr. Shannon was an assistant professor of sport and fitness management at Cameron University from 2010-13. Dr. Shannon was the head men’s basketball coach at East Central University from 2003-10 and assistant coach from 1994-2003, advancing to the Elite Eight twice. He served on the NCAA II men’s basketball regional ranking committee from 2007-10. From 1993-94, he was an assistant basketball coach at Oklahoma City University, winning the NAIA National Championship in 1994.
Dr. Shannon earned his Ph.D. in Health, Leisure, and Human Performance from Oklahoma State University in 2014. He has an M.Ed. in Physical Education from East Central University in 1995. Dr. Shannon earned his B.S. in Accounting from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1989. He and his wife, Davida, have four children: Tanner, Trent, Kinsey, and Jake.
