photo by: Missy Minear/Kansas Athletics
Kansas assistant Brandon Shelby talks to cornerback Austin Alexander during fall camp in Lawrence on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
Kansas football analyst Brandon Shelby has been promoted to defensive backs coach, head coach Lance Leipold announced on Monday afternoon.
“We’re excited to announce Brandon Shelby as our defensive backs coach,” Leipold said in a press release. “Brandon has a proven track record of developing and recruiting at a high level. He’s an experienced coach at the power-four level and did an excellent job this fall with our program and the development of our secondary. I am confident that he will do a great job in leading our defensive backs.”
A 13-year assistant coach at Indiana who joined KU as an analyst in 2024 — as one of many coaches benefiting from a rule change allowing analysts to have a more hands-on role in on-field coaching — Shelby replaces D.K. McDonald, who recently earned a promotion of his own to defensive coordinator after the retirement of longtime assistant Brian Borland.
Shelby served as Indiana’s cornerbacks coach from 2011-14 and 2016-20, briefly overseeing the entire secondary in 2015, and then from 2021-23 had the title of assistant head coach/cornerbacks. Leipold said in July that Shelby had been interested in the cornerbacks coach job that went to McDonald following Jordan Peterson’s departure last winter, but ultimately decided to join KU’s staff even after McDonald got the gig.
Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, and a graduate of Rockhurst High School, he had previously coached at Oklahoma, Arizona, San Diego, Portland State and Louisiana-Monroe.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Coach Leipold for the opportunity to continue being a part of KU Football and contributing to such an exceptional program,” Shelby said in the release. “As a member of the defensive staff, I’m excited to lead the secondary and mentor the student-athletes who proudly represent the crimson and blue. I’m eager to help build something truly remarkable here at KU. Let’s get to work – Rock Chalk!”
KU has now filled out its top-line coaching staff with the hires of Shelby and co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Matt Lubick.
