Hurricanes

Coach Yusuf Shakir’s Biography

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In March 2009, Yusuf Shakir was named Head Football Coach of his alma mater and perennial state and national power Tallahassee Lincoln High School, thus becoming the first alumni of Lincoln to be named Head Football Coach. It all began in 1995, when Shakir was a High School Football All-American at Lincoln. He was the only player in the talent rich state of Florida to be ranked in state recruiting services at two different positions in 1995. Shakir was a 1st Team All-Big Bend and a 1st Team All-State player in Class 6A and an honorable mention USA Today All-American.

Shakir received several Division I-A scholarship offers. Shakir graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Shakir then moved on to teaching and coaching at his, Tallahassee Lincoln High School. He helped win a State Football Championship as an assistant coach at Lincoln in 2001 with a win over perennial state and national power St. Thomas Aquinas. Nine years later in 2010, he won another State Football Championship, but this time as the head coach of Lincoln football. Other coaching highlights include:

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• Coached in five State Semi-final football games.

• Coached in the playoffs and has been part of a District Championship staff every year

  except for one he has coached.

• Coached in the prestigious California vs. Florida All-Star Games in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

• Head Coach of the Lincoln High School Black History Brain Bowl State Championship team in his first year as Head Coach in 2006 and in 2007 finished State Runner-Up.

• Coach Shakir has taught Advance Placement American Government, Advance Placement Psychology, Honors American Government, Sociology, African-American History, American History & Personal Fitness.

• In his seventh year of coaching, Shakir was named Head Coach at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Florida and led Gibbs to its first winning record in five years and only the sixth playoff appearance in the last 40 years.

• In 2007, Shakir was Named District 14 Coach of the Year (one of only 20 districts in Florida).

• In 2007, five players selected from Gibbs to the County All-Star game. Six players were selected to the All-Pinellas County team (all classes). One player was selected to the All Suncoast Team, which encompasses Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. One player was also selected to the All-State Class 5A team.

• In 2007 and 2008, Gibbs played for the district championship two consecutive years, which was the first time this has occurred since the 1994 and 1995 seasons. Shakir also accomplished the most wins at the school in back to back years since the 1994 and 1995 seasons.

• In 2008, five players were selected to the County All-Star game (each school is limited to only five). Seven players were selected to the All County team. One player was selected to the All-Suncoast Team, which encompasses Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties.

• Under Shakir’s guidance, it was only the second time in the last 25 years that Gibbs has had back to back winning seasons in 2007 and 2008.

• In the two years with Shakir as Head Coach, 25 Gibbs players signed to continue their playing careers at the collegiate level.

• Coach Shakir is most proud that every senior that played at Gibbs graduated with their High School Diploma and is continuing their education at a higher level.

• In spring of 2009 Lincoln High School named Yusuf Shakir as the head coach of the Trojans’ Football program.

• Spring of 2010 Nike named Lincoln High football as a Nike Elite Football program. One of 50 high schools nationally to receive this contract.

• In 2010, the Lincoln Trojans won the class 4A State Championship, defeating the Armwood Hawks.

• In 2010, Shakir was names the Class 4A Nike Coach of the Year.

• In 2010, Shakir was named Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend Coach of the Year.

• In 2010, Shakir was named Tallahassee QB Club’s Coach of the Year.

• In 2012, Lincoln High School becomes the first high from the state of Florida to play in

  the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome as part of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic. Defeating St. Paul’s of Covington, La. 14-13.

• In 2012, the Lincoln Trojans were Class 7A State Runner-ups.

• In 2012, Shakir was named District 3 Coach of the Year (one of only 20 districts in

  Florida)

• In 2013 Lincoln opened the Season on ESPN and defeated South Gwinnett High School

  34-21.

• Under Coach Shakir’s leadership Lincoln has appeared on National Television four times.

• In the five years that Shakir has been head coach, the Lincoln Trojans have won 5

  straight district championships.

• The Lincoln Trojans have won 15 straight district championships.

• The Lincoln Trojans have had 18 consecutive playoff appearance

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  Coach Yusuf Shakir’s Speaking Appearances

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• 2010 Nike Coach of the Year Clinic in Orlando, FL.

• 2010 University of Alabama Coaching Clinic

• 2010 Florida State University Coaching Clinic

• 2010 Webinar for Glazier Clinic

• 2011 Glazier Clinic Tampa, FL.

• 2011 University of Kentucky Coaching Clinic

• 2012 Glazier Clinic Atlanta, Ga.

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Coach Yusuf Shakir’s Coaching Philosophy

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Coach Yusuf Shakir often says that “good is the enemy of great,” which has been adopted as the theme for the Lincoln Trojans’ Football Program. It is this dedication to perfection and a strong will to win that drives Shakir to expect the best at all times from his players and coaching staff. At the same time, Coach Shakir takes a personal interest in each of his players to become the best student-athlete they can be, taking many of his own experiences and successes as a student-athlete himself to guide and shape his players for lifelong success. While Shakir is passionate about football, he is even more passionate about instilling life lessons and a foundation for future success in life after football.

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• In 2013 Lincoln opened the Season on ESPN and defeated South Gwinnett High School 34-21.

• Under Coach Shakir’s leadership Lincoln has appeared on National Television four times.

• In 2012, the Lincoln Trojans were Class 7A State Runner-ups.

• In 2012, Shakir was named District 3 Coach of the Year (one of only 20 districts in Florida)

• In 2012, Lincoln High School becomes the first high from the state of Florida to play in the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome as part of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic. Defeating St. Paul’s of Covington, La. 14-13.

• In the five years that Shakir has been head coach, the Lincoln Trojans have won 5 straight district championships.

• In five years as Head Coach at Lincoln Coach Shakir has signed 52 players to athletic scholarships.

• In 2010, the Lincoln Trojans won the class 4A State Championship, defeating the Armwood Hawks.

• In 2010, Shakir was names the Class 4A Nike Coach of the Year.

• In 2010, Shakir was named Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend Coach of the Year.

• In 2010, Shakir was named Tallahassee QB Club Coach of the Year.

• In spring of 2009 Lincoln High School named Yusuf Shakir as the Head Coach of the Trojans’ Football

  program.

• In 2008, five players were selected to the County All-Star game (each school is limited to only five). Seven

  players were selected to the All County team. One player was selected to the All-Suncoast Team, which

  encompasses Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties.

• Under Shakir’s guidance, it was only the second time in the last 25 years that Gibbs has had back to back

  winning seasons in 2007 and 2008.

• In the two years with Shakir as Head Coach, 25 Gibbs players signed to continue their playing careers at

  the collegiate level.

• Coach Shakir is most proud that every senior that played at Gibbs graduated with their High School

  Diploma and is continuing their education at a higher level.

• In 2007 and 2008, Gibbs played for the district championship two consecutive years, which was the first

  time this has occurred since the 1994 and 1995 seasons. Shakir also accomplished the most wins at the

  school in back to back years since the 1994 and 1995 seasons.

• In 2007, Shakir was Named District 14 Coach of the Year (one of only 20 districts in Florida).

• In 2007, five players selected from Gibbs to the County All-Star game. Six players were selected to the All-

  Pinellas County team (all classes). One player was selected to the All Sun-Coast Team, which encompasses Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. One player was also selected to the All-State Class 5A team.

• In his seventh year of coaching, Shakir was named Head Coach at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Florida and led Gibbs to its first winning record in five years and only the sixth playoff appearance in the last 40 years.

• Head Coach of the Lincoln High School Black History Brain Bowl State Championship team in hi first year as Head Coach in 2006 and in 2007 finished State Runner-Up.

• Coached in the prestigious California vs. Florida All-Star Games in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

• In 2001, Lincoln High School won Class 4A State Championship, defeating St. Thomas Aquinas.

• Coached in three State Championship games.

• Coached in five State Semi-final football games.

• The Lincoln Trojans have won 15 straight district championships.

• The Lincoln Trojans have had 18 consecutive playoff appearances.

• Coach Shakir has taught Advance Placement American Government, Advance Placement Psychology,

  Honors American Government, Sociology, African-American History, American History & Personal Fitness.