MCKINNEY, Texas — McKinney High School football coach Marcus Shavers has announced his resignation, after six seasons coaching the Lions.
Shavers led McKinney to a 9-3 season in 2023, finishing with a 37-29 during his tenure with the Lions. The 9-win campaign was Shavers' best win-total in McKinney.
McKinney advanced to the area round of the playoffs this year, where they lost a heartbreaker to Highland Park, 22-21. In 2022, they made it one round deeper, advancing to the regional semifinals where they fell to Southlake Carroll.
Shavers came to McKinney after two seasons as the head coach at Lubbock Estacado.
In the 12 seasons before Shavers arrived in McKinney, the Lions were under .500 ten times, including an 0-10 season. This year, Shavers' team featured some of the top talent in the area, including cornerback Xavier Filsaime, who is going to Florida, and running back Bryan Jackson, who is going to USC.
He was temporarily suspended by McKinney ISD early in the 2023 season, when a social media video surfaced, showing Shavers hand-rolling a cigarette. But he was later cleared -- the district saying it found no evidence to support illegal conduct. Shavers rejoined his team, and coached the remainder of the season. He missed two games before returning.
In social media post Thursday, Shavers thanked not only his Lions family but the entire McKinney community for their support. Shavers said it was a tough decision to announce his resignation but he wants to pursue new coaching opportunities.
McKinney ISD told WFAA that a plan is in place to search for a new head football coach -- which the district hopes to hire in January 2024.
"The foundation has been laid within the football program for continued excellence, and our program is full of amazing young men who have incredible athletic talent, possess a strong work ethic, and a strong sense of character. The future remains bright for MHS football," a statement from McKinney ISD read.