When Shorter University announced it would field a football program in 2005, Paul Pitts was ready and willing to help establish the foundation of the team by becoming a student assistant.
Pitts now enters his ninth season at Shorter having emerged as a valuable member of the Hawks’ staff serving as the team’s recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach, two positions that he has embraced and developed into key components for the team.
Since 2010, when he assumed the role as the offensive line coach, Pitts has maintained Shorter’s reputation as one of the top rushing teams in the nation intact, producing multiple all-conference and all-academic linemen.
Last year in Shorter’s first season as an NCAA Division II team that competes in the Gulf South Conference, Pitts’ linemen paved the way to help the Hawks – Shorter ended its affiliation as an NAIA team leading the nation in rushing – become the GSC’s top rushing team averaging 268 yards a game.
During his tenure at Shorter, Pitts has held multiple roles on the staff, first serving as a student assistant and graduate assistant coach who worked with the Hawks’ tight ends, wide receivers and tackles, as well as being the team’s equipment coordinator.
A 2007 graduate of Shorter with a degree in History and Political Science, Pitts earned his master’s degree in leadership in 2009 and that same year became head coach of the Hawks’ junior varsity program.
Pitts graduated from East Coweta High in 2002 and prior to coming to Shorter he attended Gardner-Webb University – Hawks head coach Phil Jones was an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb at the time – where he was involved in video aspects for the football team.
