Ball State University Athletics
Lynch Welcomes New Role and Four New Assistants Assume Posts on Football Coaching Staff
February 14, 2024 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – As the coaching carousel continues spinning throughout college football, Ball State head coach Mike Neu has announced four new assistant coaches and named quarterbacks coach Kevin Lynch as assistant head coach. Jeff Beckles assumes his post as running backs coach, Darrell Perkins takes over as cornerbacks coach, Anthony Shakir takes control of the defensive line and Shaq Vann reports to Ball State as wide receivers coach.
"One of the best qualities that all four new coaches had in common was their ability to teach," said Neu. "I believe that's important and something that really stood out during the interview process."
Lynch, on the Ball State staff since 2016 and the quarterbacks coach since 2021, maintains his role as QB coach while helping Neu in a support capacity managing day-to-day operations of the program.
"Very few people know this program as well as Kevin," said Neu, who was Ball State's quarterback in the 1990s while playing for offensive coordinator Bill Lynch, Kevin's father. "He has spent the majority of his life being closely tied to the University. Kevin not only knows the ins and outs of Ball State, but also the Muncie community. He creates strong relationships with our players and staff. I have no doubt he will continue coaching our quarterbacks well, while being a strong voice and leader for our program."
While Lynch maintains his role with Cardinal quarterbacks, veteran coach Jeff Beckles takes charge in the offensive backfield following eight seasons in the same capacity at Middle Tennessee State. A college wide receiver who won five straight bowl games and a national championship with Florida State in 1993, Beckles has coached running backs since 2007 with Central Michigan, Troy and Samford prior to his tenure at MTSU. Since beginning his coaching career at the high school level in the 1990s, he has nurtured the careers of six NFL running backs.
"Jeff has over 20 years of experience and has shown great success in the development of his players. He not only has a passion for teaching and mentoring on the field, but off it as well," said Neu.
In the defensive backfield, Perkins arrives in Muncie after coaching last season at Syracuse. His career includes conference titles in the Big Ten, Big South and Big East conferences, and he won a pair of Western Athletic Conference titles as a player at Wyoming. In 2000, he sold a Chick-fil-A franchise in Colorado to become a graduate assistant at Purdue, and while winding through 23 years of college coaching, he has helped develop nine defensive backs currently playing in the NFL.
"We are excited to add Darrell's long history of working with defensive backs to our program," said Neu. "He has had experience at both the Power 5 and mid-major levels. This team is lucky to have him back in the Midwest."
Shakir oversees a defensive line that was one of Ball State's strengths last season. He spent the past two seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga where he helped the Mocs to prominence in total defense, rush defense, sacks and tackles for loss. He spent the 2021 season at East Tennessee State, he coached three seasons at Appalachian State and he broke into the college coaching ranks at Rochester in 2017. He played linebacker at Brevard College in North Carolina, and began coaching there in 2015.
"Anthony's dynamic personality and toughness have led teams to bowl games and playoff competitions. He is a great coach and takes a lot of pride in leading young men," said Neu.
Vann, meanwhile, is a former running back at Eastern Michigan who now leads the Cardinals' receiving unit after working last year as a graduate assistant with national championship runner-up Washington. He was a three-time team captain with the Eagles while helping EMU to bowl games in 2016, 2018 and 2019. A native of South Bend, he earned a master's degree at EMU while serving as a GA for two seasons before landing at Washington. With the Huskies, he coached receivers and scout teams, and oversaw their signaling operation on game days. He coached three of the top receivers in college football last season, each scheduled to attend the NFL Combine.
"I'm excited to welcome Shaq back to the MAC!," added Neu. "He was a great player in our league and he has become a really talented, young coach. We will definitely benefit from his enthusiasm and hunger to win games."
The Cardinals open spring workouts on Sunday, February 25.
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"One of the best qualities that all four new coaches had in common was their ability to teach," said Neu. "I believe that's important and something that really stood out during the interview process."
Lynch, on the Ball State staff since 2016 and the quarterbacks coach since 2021, maintains his role as QB coach while helping Neu in a support capacity managing day-to-day operations of the program.
"Very few people know this program as well as Kevin," said Neu, who was Ball State's quarterback in the 1990s while playing for offensive coordinator Bill Lynch, Kevin's father. "He has spent the majority of his life being closely tied to the University. Kevin not only knows the ins and outs of Ball State, but also the Muncie community. He creates strong relationships with our players and staff. I have no doubt he will continue coaching our quarterbacks well, while being a strong voice and leader for our program."
While Lynch maintains his role with Cardinal quarterbacks, veteran coach Jeff Beckles takes charge in the offensive backfield following eight seasons in the same capacity at Middle Tennessee State. A college wide receiver who won five straight bowl games and a national championship with Florida State in 1993, Beckles has coached running backs since 2007 with Central Michigan, Troy and Samford prior to his tenure at MTSU. Since beginning his coaching career at the high school level in the 1990s, he has nurtured the careers of six NFL running backs.
"Jeff has over 20 years of experience and has shown great success in the development of his players. He not only has a passion for teaching and mentoring on the field, but off it as well," said Neu.
In the defensive backfield, Perkins arrives in Muncie after coaching last season at Syracuse. His career includes conference titles in the Big Ten, Big South and Big East conferences, and he won a pair of Western Athletic Conference titles as a player at Wyoming. In 2000, he sold a Chick-fil-A franchise in Colorado to become a graduate assistant at Purdue, and while winding through 23 years of college coaching, he has helped develop nine defensive backs currently playing in the NFL.
"We are excited to add Darrell's long history of working with defensive backs to our program," said Neu. "He has had experience at both the Power 5 and mid-major levels. This team is lucky to have him back in the Midwest."
Shakir oversees a defensive line that was one of Ball State's strengths last season. He spent the past two seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga where he helped the Mocs to prominence in total defense, rush defense, sacks and tackles for loss. He spent the 2021 season at East Tennessee State, he coached three seasons at Appalachian State and he broke into the college coaching ranks at Rochester in 2017. He played linebacker at Brevard College in North Carolina, and began coaching there in 2015.
"Anthony's dynamic personality and toughness have led teams to bowl games and playoff competitions. He is a great coach and takes a lot of pride in leading young men," said Neu.
Vann, meanwhile, is a former running back at Eastern Michigan who now leads the Cardinals' receiving unit after working last year as a graduate assistant with national championship runner-up Washington. He was a three-time team captain with the Eagles while helping EMU to bowl games in 2016, 2018 and 2019. A native of South Bend, he earned a master's degree at EMU while serving as a GA for two seasons before landing at Washington. With the Huskies, he coached receivers and scout teams, and oversaw their signaling operation on game days. He coached three of the top receivers in college football last season, each scheduled to attend the NFL Combine.
"I'm excited to welcome Shaq back to the MAC!," added Neu. "He was a great player in our league and he has become a really talented, young coach. We will definitely benefit from his enthusiasm and hunger to win games."
The Cardinals open spring workouts on Sunday, February 25.
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