Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant Tight Ends Coach
- Email:
- haneyd61
DeShawn Haney is in his first season as the Fighting Illini's assistant tight ends coach in 2026.
Haney came to Illinois after two seasons as the tight ends coach at Texas Southern. The Tigers’ tight ends room excelled under Haney, helping a resurgent TSU program jump from three to five wins in his first season, followed by a 6-5 mark in 2025 – the team’s first winning season since 2000.
A native of Kansas City, Haney played collegiately along both the offensive and defensive line coming out of Park Hill High School. He began his college career with one season at NAIA Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo., before transferring to NCAA Division II Washburn for one season, and ultimately finishing his playing career at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.
Following a position change to offensive line in his junior season, Haney stepped into yet another new role and began his coaching career as an undergraduate student assistant for Lincoln during the Tigers’ 2018 campaign.
After graduation, Haney spent two more seasons (2019-20) as a graduate assistant at Lincoln, before making the jump to NCAA Division I. In his first stop at the FCS level, he served as a graduate assistant at Western Illinois in 2021 under former Leathernecks head coach, and current Illini tight ends coach, Jared Elliott.
Haney continued his ascent, moving from WIU to Northern Arizona for the 2022 season before climbing to the FBS level as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan. During his lone season at EMU in 2023, he helped guide an Eagles team that won six games and was selected to play in the 68 Ventures Bowl.
Haney holds two degrees from Lincoln, completing a bachelor’s degree in sports management before earning a master’s degree in business administration.
Coaching Career
| Years | University | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Illinois | Assistant Tight Ends Coach |
| 2024-25 | Texas Southern | Tight Ends |
| 2023 | Eastern Michigan | Graduate Assistant |
| 2022 | Northern Arizona | Graduate Assistant |
| 2021 | Western Illinois | Graduate Assistant |
| 2019-20 | Lincoln University | Graduate Assistant |
| 2018 | Lincoln University | Student Assistant |
