Asheville School Hires Former NFL Running Back as New Head Football Coach

Asheville School has hired Shawn Bryson as its new head football coach. Bryson previously held the same position at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.

The move will be a homecoming of sorts for Bryson, a Franklin, N.C. native and Franklin High School graduate. Following a prolific high school career, Bryson matriculated at the University of Tennessee and starred at running back for the Volunteers from 1995-1998 under legendary Head Coach Phillip Fulmer. He served as team captain on the 1998 national championship team and finished his career in Knoxville with 505 yards rushing, 484 yards receiving, and nine total touchdowns.

A third-round selection in the 1999 NFL Draft, Bryson enjoyed an 8-year professional career with the Buffalo Bills (2000-2002) and Detroit Lions (2003-2006). He retired in 2006 with career totals of 2,144 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He took over at Rabun Gap- Nacoochee in 2017 after several collegiate coaching stops, including Lenoir-Rhyne (fullbacks), Temple University (Graduate Assistant), Florida A&M (running backs), and UT-Chattanooga (running backs).

Asheville School Director of Athletics Carl Boland is excited to welcome Bryson to the Asheville School community, “Coach Bryson has extensive experience at every level of football and has earned a reputation for consummate leadership at every stop he has made. He will be a great asset to our school and our student-athletes.”

Along with his coaching duties, Bryson will serve as Asheville School’s Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. He replaces Gus Schill, who announced his retirement in January.