James Shibest was a standout wide receiver at the University of Arkansas. He starred at Tech for eight seasons, winning the Southwest Conference and setting numerous school records in the process. Though he rarely talks about his playing career, the Hokies are excited about his potential. He is also a fan of the program’s special teams. “The people here are a great group of people,” he says.
Before joining the Tech staff, Shibest spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Garden City Community College. In 2012, he joined Justin Fuente’s staff at Memphis. Previously, he played wide receiver at Arkansas, earning All-Southwest Conference honors in 1984 and 1986. He also was a Prep All-American wide receiver at MacArthur High School in Houston. He also played in one NFL game during the 1987 player strike.
Before joining Tech’s staff, Shibest served as offensive coordinator at Garden City Community College. In 2012, he joined the staff of Justin Fuente at Memphis. He played wide receiver at Arkansas from 1983 to 1987, earning All-Southwest Conference honors twice. At MacArthur High School, he was a two-time Prep All-America. In 1986, he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons, playing one game during the NFL player strike.
Coach Shibest’s special teams are among the best in the country. Since 2016, Shibest’s teams have been ranked fifth among FBS squads by SportsSource Analytics. In fact, Tech’s kickoff coverage unit is ranked third in the nation in the last three years. And his players have developed some of college football’s premier specialists. In addition to the defensive linemen, he has helped the defense develop several star wide receivers.
While he was at Arkansas, Shibest specialized in special teams. The first two years, he coached tight ends, and receivers. In 1997, he coached Butler County Community College to a 34-10 record. Its season two NJCAA championships won the year. In 1998, he was named the Jayhawk Conference Coach of the Year. His defense has produced some of college football’s best specialists.
While Shibest is still in his early years at Tech, he already has an impressive resume. His special teams unit has consistently been ranked in the top five FBS since 2017. The kickoff coverage unit has also ranked second in the nation in the past three seasons. He has also helped to develop some of the best players in the sport. Despite being in his early thirties, he has worked to develop his talent at Virginia Tech.
Aside from being a special teams coach, Shibest is also a tight ends coach at Virginia Tech. According to SportsSource Analytics, he ranks the team’s special teams as the fifth-best FBS team in the nation in the last three seasons. The defense has developed some of the best specialists in college football. He also has a strong team’s defense is critical to its success. It’s vital to have a solid running game.
Shibest has coached the team’s tight ends and special teams. He was the defensive coordinator at Arkansas for eight seasons. In 2007, he won the Ray Guy Award. In 2016, he was the special teams coordinator at Tech. The kicking unit ranked fifth in the FBS since 2017, and it had won two NJCAA national championships in the last three seasons. Its success stems from its outstanding players and the talented staff.
In addition to being a great coach, Shibest is also a great offensive coach. He has been an offensive coordinator for Garden City Community College since 2012. He was an all-SWC wide receiver at Arkansas from 1983 to 1987. During his final two seasons, he was a two-time Prep All-American. He was one of the most respected wide receivers at Tech in the 1990s. He has helped Virginia Tech become a dominant program, and his talent has been reflected by his players.
Shibest has been a special teams coordinator at the FBS level for over a decade. He graduated from Arkansas in 2000 and was an assistant coach at the school until 2007. He went on to work at Ole Miss in 2008 and won the FootballScoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year Award that year. In 2016, Shibest was hired as the head coach of the VT special teams program. This position is considered a high-profile position in the athletic department, and Shibest is an outstanding hire.
