Fall 2017 will mark Chris Shelling’s fourth season at Holmes and his first second as defensive coordinator. He had three players transfer to D1 programs --- Sean Harper to Washingston State, Dante Wigley to Colorado and Jamar Smith to Texas El-Paso.

 

He came to Holmes from Kossuth High School, where he served as Defensive Coordinator/Director of Strength for 2010- 2013. Prior to Kossuth High School, Shelling served as Defensive Assistant Coach at Northeast Mississippi Community College for the 2008- 2009 seasons.  He was Graduate Assistant for the 2007 season at Troy University, where the team was Sun Belt Co-Champions, and he also graduated with a M.S. degree.

 

At Troy University, he coached many players who made it to the NFL including Leodis McKelvin, (CB, Buffalo Bills), Elbert Mack, (CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and Sherrod Martin (FS, Carolina Panthers).

Shelling graduated with a BA from Auburn University, where he played all four years 1991- 1994.  He was named All American 1994, all SEC First Team 1994, and first runner-up for the Jim Thorpe Award in 1994. He also played from 1995 to 1997 in NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons.  He then played for two seasons 1997 to 1998 with Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in were they won the World Bowl in 1998.  Then became two-time all-star and enjoyed a stellar six year (1998-2003) stay with Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL.  He was both a CFL and East Division All-Star in 2001, while also being named to the division team in 2000 and won a Grey Cup in 1999.

 

Shelling in originally from Columbus, Ga., where he played for Baker High School. His wife, Karen, is from Canada. Together they have two sons, Elijah Maxwell and Jonah Ray.