Bill Shuey recently completed his fourth season as Widener's defensive coordinator.
In 2017, the Pride once again flexed its defensive muscle. For the third time in four years the Blue and Gold sported the Defensive Player of the Year in the MAC as Jordan Powell was recognized for his six defensive touchdowns, six interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Widener led the nation with nine defensive touchdowns and were ninth with 3.55 sacks per game. The Blue and Gold also finished in the top-30 nationally in scoring defense. Powell, Casey Kerschner, and Vince Char each received All-America honors with Powell and Kerschner also being named Cliff Harris Award nominees as the top small school defensive player in the country. Additionally, five defensive players and one special teamer were named to All-MAC teams.
The Pride was not just honored for its on field work. Char and Brian Armstrong were selected as CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees and the pair was joined by Kerschner as Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area performers on the defensive side of the ball.
Widener’s defense continued to excel and rank among the nation’s best under Shuey’s tutelage during the 2016 campaign. The Pride ranked fourth nationally in rushing defense by only allowing 67.9 yards per game as well as 10th in sacks (3.60 pg), tied for 14th in tackles for a loss (8.8 pg) and 26th in total defense (294.1 ypg) this past fall.
Individually, senior defensive end Byron Cooper was named an All-American by the AFCA and D3football.com as well as a finalist for the prestigious Cliff Harris Award. He was also one of six players who garnered All-Middle Atlantic Conference recognition and one of two to be named all-region. Furthermore, Shuey’s defense produced three Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area selections and two CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees for excellence both on the field and in the classroom.
In 2015, the Widener defense finished the season ranked seventh nationally in total defense, third in sacks and tackles for a loss, sixth in passing defense, 19th in rushing defense, and fourth on third down conversion percentage defense under Shuey’s tutelage. The Widener defense also led the Middle Atlantic Conference in most defensive categories and saw defensive end Brandon Jones be recognized as the school’s second consecutive MAC Defensive Player of the Year before later being selected as a D3football.com All-America Second Team selection as well as the D3Football.com All-East Region Defensive Player of the Year.
In addition to Jones’ All-American season, Widener’s defense had three Academic All-MAC players and All-MAC First Team selections. Furthermore, the defense had two players named to the All-MAC Conference Second Team, the D3football.com All-East Region Team, the ECAC South Region First Team and the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Team.
The Widener defense also aided the program to a 12-1 record and a perfect 10-0 in league play in 2014, which was Shuey’s first season as defensive coordinator. The team finished as high as 10th in the national rankings and reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament. The pressure-oriented defense ended the fall campaign ranked second nationally against the run as well as third in interceptions and tackles for loss. Widener's defense held opponents to 68.0 yard of rushing per game and yielded only seven rushing touchdowns all season. The Pride also limited opponents to just under 18 points per contest. Under Shuey’s leadership, the defense featured six All-MAC First Team performers, including the Defensive Player of the Year in Brandon Harper, and three D3Football.com Third Team All-Americans.
Prior to Widener, Shuey worked for two seasons as the linebackers coach for West Chester University and served under former Widener coach Bill Zwaan.
In 2013, the Golden Rams amassed a school-record 13-2 record that included three NCAA Tournament victories and a trip to the Division II semifinals. Both starting linebackers were honored by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, and middle linebacker Ronell Williams was named ECAC Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award.
The Golden Rams compiled a 7-4 record in 2012, which saw Williams lead the PSAC in tackles and ranked 15th in Division II play with 119. Williams’ tackle total was the most by a West Chester player since Lee Woodall achieved the feat in 1993. He earned three first-team honors, which included being named an All-American, All-PSAC East and All-Super Region 1.
Before arriving at West Chester University, Shuey was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles organization for ten seasons, which included eight on Andy Reid’s coaching staff. He spent four years as a defensive coach and worked directly under defensive coordinators Jim Johnson and Sean McDermott. Prior to working on the defensive side of the ball, he spent four seasons with the offensive coaching staff with coordinators Brad Childress and Marty Mornhinweg.
Shuey coached the linebacker position for the Eagles from 2008-2010. He most notably mentored Stewart Bradley and Akeem Jordan in his first season before they both emerged into full-time starters. In 2008, Bradley ranked second on the team with 151 tackles and was named to Peter King’s All-NFL Team. The Eagles made the playoffs every year during Shuey’s tenure as linebacker coach, reaching the NFC Championship Game during the 2008 campaign and capturing the NFC East title in 2010. In 2009, he received the honor of coaching the NFC Pro Bowl linebackers.
From 2003-07, Shuey was the Eagles’ offensive assistant and quality control coach. He helped organize the offense’s playbook, created Power Point presentations, assisted the running backs coach during warm-ups and drills, charted the play calls during games, and assisted with player evaluations. The squad’s high point in that span was advancing to Super Bowl XXXIX against the New England Patriots. Shuey also spent 2001-03 as a training camp coordinator for the squad and a liaison to Reid on all football matters.
Prior to coaching, Shuey competed for the Lehigh Valley Panthers of the Colonial Football Alliance and the Pittsburgh Colts of the Grassroots Football League. He received his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Slippery Rock in 1995 with a minor in business administration and his master’s in physical education from West Virginia in 1998.
A native of Bethlehem, Pa., Shuey currently resides in Chester Springs, Pa. with his wife Maura, daughter, Ella, and sons Jack and Luke.
