STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Head Football Coach Jeff Monken announced the final four hires to his coaching staff, filling three positions on defense and one on offense. Shawn Quinn, Orlando Mitjans, Jr., and Victor Cabral joined the Eagles defensive staff and Lamont Seward completes the Eagles staff on offense.
Shawn Quinn, co-defensive coordinator who coached the defensive line at Northwestern State for the 2009 season, will coach the linebackers and coordinate the Eagles' recruiting efforts. The Chicago, Ill., native helped Tennessee and Louisiana-Lafayette win conference championships and coached in bowl victories with both the Vols and LSU. Five of his Tiger players from the 2008 team went into NFL camps and 15 players coached or recruited by Quinn during his career have advanced to the NFL.
Coaching veteran Orlando Mitjans, Jr. joins the Eagle football staff with responsibilities for the cornerbacks. Mitjans came to Georgia Southern from Tennessee State where he served as secondary coach, defensive coordinator and assistant head coach during two separate tenures. His secondary corps finished as the Ohio Valley Conference leader in pass defense in 2005 and 2009 while the Tigers ranked second in total defense in 2009. Mitjans' career includes stops at Eastern Kentucky, where the Colonels won the OVC championship in 2007, Florida A&M, Towson University, Kent State, Morgan State, C.W. Post and Cheyney University.
Beginning his first year as Eagles wide receivers coach is former Western Carolina wide receiver Lamont Seward. Seward served as assistant coach through the last two fall campaigns at West Georgia and the previous two on the Catamount staff as wide receivers coach. A member of the Southern Conference All-Decade (1997-2006) team, Seward increased the offensive productivity of WCU wide receivers Michael Hines and two-time All-SoCon selection Eddie Cohen in 2006 and 2007. Cohen became WCU's single-season record holder for reception yardage.
Victor Cabral returns to his alma mater as defensive line assistant after spending three years as defensive line coach at Georgia Military College. In Cabral's first season in Milledgeville, the GMC defensive unit would earn a number-one ranking in rushing defense in the NJCAA and in 2008 the Bulldogs ranked third nationally in total defense. Cabral also served as special teams coordinator in 2009. A member of Georgia Southern's 2000 National Championship team, Cabral was four-year starter as the Eagles won four straight Southern Conference crowns from 2001-04.
Team conditioning workouts began the first week of March with the Eagles slated for their first day of spring practice on March 22. A schedule of practice dates will be released next week.
Coach Shawn Quinn profile
Coach Orlando Mitjans, Jr. profile
Coach Lamont Seward profile
Coach Victor Cabral profile
