Meet the Coach: Shawn Bryson, football
“My coaching philosophy is to mentor and develop talent. I fine-tune the details to win games and improve performance, but ultimately I strive to model integrity, faith, and accountability in order to influence these young men.”
Head Eagles Football Coach Shawn Bryson has come full circle from the NFL to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, just 16 miles from where he got his start as a high school football player.
Coach Bryson joined the Rabun Gap family in 2017. He is the second Eagles football coach in school history after the program began in 2011.
Coach Bryson grew up in Franklin, North Carolina, and played for Franklin High School. He was a running back for the University of Tennessee and was one of four team captains on the 1998 National Championship team. He then went on to play seven years in the NFL for the Detroit Buffalo Bills (1999-2003) and Detroit Lions (2003-2006).
Today, the Eagles benefit from Coach Bryson’s wealth of knowledge and experience as a player.
“The NFL instilled in me that we are at our best as a team when we are a family,” he said. “My coaching philosophy is to mentor and develop talent. I fine-tune the details to win games and improve performance, but ultimately I strive to model integrity, faith, and accountability in order to influence these young men.”
The Rabun Gap Eagles football team is very unique because players hail from across the globe. The majority of players are international. Coach Bryson works in the Admissions Office when he’s not on the field and often travels internationally to meet players.
For Bryson, three qualities make up a great Eagles football player - Loyal, dedication, passion for the game.
“This year’s team is the best team that I have coached since being here. It’s been exciting to watch the progression in both athletic ability and level of dedication,” he said.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is a private, coeducational day and boarding school for grades Pre-K through 12. Centrally located between Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC, we prepare young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service.
