Shawn Howe - Defensive Coordinator - Staff Directory - Montana State University Athletics

Staff Directory

Shawn Howe

Title:
Defensive Coordinator
Email:
Phone:
406.994.5694

Shawn Howe's increasingly responsible role at MSU speaks to his performance as a Bobcat defensive coach. He joined Brent Vigen’s original staff as defensive line coach in 2021, adding defensive run game coordinator and co-defensive coordinator duties over the next two years. In 2025, he becomes the program’s defensive coordinator. Under his tutelage Brody Grebe (three times), Chase Benson and Daniel Hardy each earned All-America honors. Grebe, in fact, finished as a three-time All-America. Before MSU, Howe coached at USC (2011-12, 2019-20), Coastal Carolina (2018), Dixie State (now Utah Tech, 2015-17), Humboldt State (2013-14), Tennessee (2010), Memphis (2007-09), North Carolina State (2006), and his alma mater Rocky Mountain College (2004-05).

Personal Information
Birth Date: Dec. 13, 1981
Hometown: Dallas, OR
Education: BA Physical Ed/Health, Rocky Mountain College, 2004
Player: Defensive end/linebacker, College of the Redwoods, 2000-01; defensive end, Rocky Mountain College, 2002-03

Coaching Timeline
2021-present: Montana State, Defensive Coordinator (2025-present), Co-Defensive Coordinator (2024), Defensive Run Game Coordinator/Defensive Line (2021-24)
2019-20: USC, Defensive Analyst
2018: Coastal Carolina, Defensive Line
2015-17: Dixie State, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coord.
2013-14: Humboldt State, Defensive Line
2011-12: USC, Defensive Graduate Assistant/Defensive Line
2010: Tennessee, Assistant Strength and Conditioning
2007-09: Memphis, Defensive GA (2007-08), TE GA (2009)
2006: North Carolina State, Volunteer Asstistant/Def. Line
2004-05: Rocky Mountain, Outside Linebackers

Team Accomplishments as Coach
MSU – 2024: FCS Championship Game, school-record 15 wins, Big Sky Championship, 11th in FCS scoring defense (18.1), 24th in FCS rushing defense (121.2), 1st in Big Sky sacks (2.1); 2023: FCS Playoffs, 8-4 record... led FCS with 3.42 sacks per game, 21st with 6.8 tackles-for-loss per game, led Big Sky in both categories; 2022: FCS Semifinals, Big Sky Champions... led Big Sky in rushing defense (141.9); 2022 - FCS Semifinals, Big Sky Champions... led Big Sky in rushing defense (141.9); 2021: FCS Runnerup, finishing 12-3... rushing defense 31st in FCS (125.9 yards per game), 6th in TFL (24th, 6.6 per game)
USC – 2019: Finished 8-5, played in Holiday Bowl; 2012: 7-6, played in Sun Bowl.
Tennessee – 2010: Music City Bowl. Memphis – 2007: New Orelans Bowl, 2008 St. Petersburg Bowl.

Individual Achievements as Position Coach
MSU – 2024: Brody Grebe Big Sky Defensive MVP, NFF Scholar-Athlete, Campbell Trophy Finalist, and FCS ADA Academic All-Star; 2023: Brody Grebe 9th in FCS sacks per game (0.83), 4th in Big Sky in tackles-for-loss (1.1), and Buck Buchanan Award Finalist; 2022 - Sebastian Valdez led Big Sky interior linemen in sacks (0.54 per game); 2021: Defensive ends Daniel Hardy (1st, 1.10 per game) and Amandre Williams (9th, 0.57) finished in the top 10 in Big Sky in sacks.
USC – 2012: DT Leonard Williams Pac-12 Defensive Frosh of Year

All-Americas Coached as Position Coach
2024: DE Brody Grebe (2nd Team)
2022: DE Brody Grebe (3rd Team)
2021: DE Daniel Hardy (1st Team), DT Chase Benson (3rd Team)
2014: DE Alex Markarian
2012: DT Leonard Williams (Frosh All-America 1st)

All-Conference Players Coached as Position Coach
2024: DE Brody Grebe (1st Team and Big Sky Defensive MVP), DT Paul Brott (2nd Team), DE Kenneth Eiden IV (HM)
2023: DE Brody Grebe (1st), DT Sebastian Valdez (2nd)
2022: DE Brody Grebe (1st), DT Sebastian Valdez (1st)
2021: DE Daniel Hardy (1st), DT Chase Benson (1st), DE Amandre Williams (Honorable Mention)
2018: DL Jeff Gunter (1st), Tarron Jackson (2nd)
2016: DB Jaylen Moore RMAC Freshman of the Year
2015: DE Alex Markarian (1st), DT Silas Sarvinski (1st)
2014: DE Alex Markarian (1st)

Playing Career
Defensive end and linebacker at College of Redwoods 2000-01, earning First Team All-Mid-Empire Conference honors in 2000, when he was the team’s Defensive Lineman of the Year... starting defensive end at Rocky Mountain in 2002 and 2003.