A former high school lacrosse coach turned millionaire playcaller for the No. 1 college football team in the country is a win away from a national championship.
If Norwin alum Mike Shanahan tells you he is living the dream, he means it.
The second-year offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Indiana is on the doorstep of a College Football Playoff championship, which would be the scene-stealing Hoosiers’ first national title.
It’s been a fairy-tale season unlike any other and Shanahan is one of the main characters.
His name is trending as an NFL coaching prospect. Fans are calling local radio shows saying he should be considered to replace Mike Tomlin.
Shanahan’s pro prospects can wait for now. Head coach Curt Cignetti’s protégé — they have coached together for 10 years now — has unfinished business.
Indiana (15-0) and No. 10 Miami (13-2) will play at 7:30 Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Shanahan, 35, who played wide receiver at Pitt — he was All-Big East — and had a few tryouts in the NFL before entering the coaching ranks, guides an explosive offense led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who likely will be the first player to have his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
A Hoosier story
“Hoosiers,” the classic movie, is about an odds-defying high school basketball team’s run to a state title. But Hollywood might want to consider making a film about these football Hoosiers and their budding OC who was Norwin’s lacrosse coach for one season in 2015.
Shanahan and the staff have directed the Hoosiers on a boot-stomping tour of the CFP postseason, with no-doubt wins over Alabama (38-3) in the quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl and Oregon (56-22) in the semifinals.
Indiana, averaging 42.6 points and 461 yards per game, won the Big Ten for the first time since 1967.
Before he hit the big time — Shanahan went from making upwards of $5,000 at IUP in 2016 to $800,000 in 2024 at Indiana to $1.7 million this year in the first of three-year deal — Shanahan was just a stud athlete at Norwin.
Before Shanahan worked his way to Bloomington — he also coached at James Madison, Elon and Pitt — he was a two-sport standout. Basketball was his first love — he played AAU with Jeannette’s Terrelle Pryor — but he grew fonder of football, not knowing early on it would be his ticket to college and his future endeavors.
Actions, no words
While Shanahan is not permitted, per Indiana policy, to talk to the media until after the national championship game, those who played a role in his meteoric rise in coaching have plenty to say about him.
“Mike always was on the same page with the coaching staff when it came to the design of offensive plays and schemes,” said Dan Conwell, who was Shanahan’s football coach at Norwin. “He was always able to be an extension of the coaching staff on the field and was extremely well respected by his teammates.”
Brian Brozeski, who was an assistant on the Knights’ staff, said he was thrilled when the 6-foot-5 Shanahan decided to play his senior season. He had considered focusing solely on basketball.
“Mike was a really physical receiver,” Brozeski said. “I remember he hit someone so hard, he broke his hand. He was always taking everything in. He was more of a silent leader who led with his actions more than words. But when he spoke, players stopped to listen.”
Conwell also said Shanahan was a lead-by-example player. But he had a knack for seeing why plays worked or failed, what strengths led to success and those the Knights could exploit.
“He also was able to contribute educated recommendations and adjustments during the games as well,” Conwell said.
Shanahan often talks shop with Conwell’s son, Dan, who is an assistant at Oklahoma State.
“I will always be thankful that he decided to play for us during his senior season and not concentrate only on basketball,” the elder Conwell said. “He not only made us a better team but was a major contributor with his teammates to make that a special season. Selfishly, I like to think that maybe, just maybe, that was his first step into his football career and began the path he is currently on.”
Tyler Urban, Shanahan’s high school teammate who played receiver at West Virginia, said Shanahan was a calming presence.
“He can get fiery when he needs to, but somebody that people can look to when things need to be put back on track,” Urban said. “Coaching was an obvious path for him. His dad (Mike) coached us in basketball from kids up, until we went to high school. He and his dad recruited me to come play basketball in third grade. I probably played a role in him coming out for football a year or two later. Mike has always been a student of the game, regardless of the sport.
“His career trajectory over the past decade has been nothing short of amazing.”
Shanahan not only had talent coming out of the WPIAL, but also pedigree. His father, Mike, played basketball at IUP. His uncle, Brian, played at Duquesne, where he scored 1,000 points.
That basketball gene is strong.
Chris Klimchock, a former Greensburg Salem basketball standout and now the head men’s basketball coach at Pitt-Greensburg, played up a level in AAU basketball and was on Shanahan’s teams.
Pryor and Jonathan Baldwin (Aliquippa) joined the star-studded lineup with the Pittsburgh Storm.
“What I remember most about Shan was his overall work ethic on both ends of the floor,” Klimchock said. “He would never take a play off and was always consistent in his play. When you couple that with his athleticism and talent, it’s no reason he was such a phenomenal athlete.
“We didn’t really talk about getting into coaching while we played AAU, but both of our fathers were good friends and helped coach our AAU teams. I owe so much to my dad (Rick) and Mr. Shanahan for all the time they put into making us better players.”
Klimchock said John Beilein was interested in recruiting Shanahan to West Virginia and Michigan.
“I remember Coach Beilein wanted him to be a better shooter,” Klimchock said, “so he bought a shooting strap to put on his wrist to help him be a more consistent shooter. Shan was always determined to be the best player he could be.”
When Lynn Washowich coached Shanahan in basketball at Norwin, he saw a skilled and cerebral forward.
Shanahan later served as Washowich’s assistant for a year before he left to coach at IUP.
“Mike was always focused on the game and understood key concepts,” Washowich said. “He understood better than most why certain plays developed the way they did.
“He helped our varsity and coached the JV team. He actually stopped playing football going into his junior year. He missed the first week of camp because he was focusing on basketball. He asked if he could come back out and obviously coach Conwell said yes. One of the best decisions in his life.”