QUINCY, Ill. – Head football coach Gary Bass is pleased to announce the hiring of new defensive backs Coach Kirby Cannon. The Alexandria, Missouri native brings more than 30 years of experience to the Hawk program.

"I could not be more excited to join the football coaching staff at Quincy University. Coach Bass has the Hawk program moving in a very positive direction and I hope to contribute to the next step in becoming a championship program," said Coach Cannon. "As an added benefit I get to return to the Tri-State area where I grew up and have many friends and family."

Cannon comes to the Gem City after spending five seasons (2017-2021) at Northern Michigan University, where he was the defensive coordinator in his second stint. The Wildcat defense saw significant improvements under his leadership. He previously spent two seasons in the mid-1990s on the Wildcats staff as the defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Prior to NMU, Cannon served as the head coach at Austin Peay State University from 2013 to 2015. He got his first head coaching job with fellow GLVC school Missouri S&T where he spent from 1999 to 2009. Cannon helped to turn around a struggling Miner program. During his final five seasons, he posted a 28-27 record. The 2005 season, which saw the Miners post a 7-4 record, snapped a streak of 20-straight losing seasons.

Between his stints with the Governors and Miners, Cannon worked on the Central Michigan University staff as the defensive backs coach, where he helped lead the Chippewas to the 2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl victory over Western Kentucky University.

"Coach Cannon is a great coach and very well respected in the profession," said head coach Gary Bass. "We are very excited to have him join our staff. His knowledge and experience that he brings to the table is something you don't get every day. He is a familiar face to the Tri-State area and we can't wait to get him on campus."

Before his time in Rolla, Missouri, he spent the 1997 and 1998 seasons in Macomb, Illinois with the Western Illinois Leathernecks as their defensive backs coach. He helped guide the Leathernecks to a berth in the 1998 Division I-AA national semifinals.

From 1989 to 1994, Cannon served as defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State). He assumed the responsibilities of defensive coordinator in 1993. During his time in Kirksville, Mo., Northeast Missouri State made three NCAA Division II playoff appearances.

Cannon got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Iowa State, in which he was promoted to recruiting coordinator the next season. In 1985, Cannon was tabbed as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at North Central College (Ill.), where he stayed for four seasons.

Cannon graduated from Missouri State, where he was a quarterback and a pitcher, in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education. In 2011, he was inducted into Missouri State's Athletics Hall of Fame.