Jacksonville expected to hire Shields as football coach

(STATS) - Jacksonville University scheduled a news conference for Tuesday to discuss the future of its football program after announcing on Thursday it won't renew the contract of nine-year coach Kerwin Bell.

The news conference is expected to serve as Ian Shields' introduction as the Dolphins' new head coach.

Shields resigned as Division II Lenoir-Rhyne College's head coach Friday night and will take over Jacksonville's FCS program in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League, according to reports.

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Shields posted a 16-6 record in two seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne, including 11-1 in 2014 when he was named the South Atlantic Conference coach of the year. That squad set a Division II rushing record by averaging 416.0 yards per game.

He served as the offensive coordinator and associate head coach at Army from 2009-13, working with current Jacksonville athletic director Dr. Donnie Horner. Shields also coached at California Polytechnic State, Eastern Oregon, Saint Mary's and Oregon State, his alma mater.

Jacksonville went 66-35 under Bell, including 52-19 in the PFL. But the Dolphins officially vacated 30 of those league wins from 2010-14 due to violations against the league's need-based financial aid guidelines.

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