Towson hires West Florida's Pete Shinnick as football coach

TOWSON, Md. (AP) — Towson hired Pete Shinnick as its new football coach on Sunday.

The Baltimore native returns to Maryland after leading West Florida to a Division II national championship in 2019 and playoff appearances in four of the last five seasons played.

Shinnick is 159-67 as a college head coach at West Florida, UNC Pembroke and Azusa Pacific. He signed a five-year contract.

Shinnick takes over for Rob Ambrose, who went 76-76 in 13 seasons. Towson reached the FCS title game in 2013 and also appeared in the playoffs in 2011 and 2018 under Ambrose.

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