Kirby Cannon will be entering his first season as the Hawks Defensive Backs Coach. With over 35 years of coaching experience, Cannon has coached at all four levels of NCAA football.
Prior to accepting the position at Quincy, Cannon served as the Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach at Northern Michigan University. Cannon began his college coaching career at Iowa State University in 1983. His career also includes two stints serving as a head coach at Missouri S&T (1999 -2009) and FCS level Austin Peay State
University (2013-2015). Sandwiched in between those positions was a three year stint as the Defensive Back coach at Central Michigan University under Head Coach Dan Enos.
Cannon has extensive experience coaching in post-season play. While at Northeast Missouri State, (now Truman State University) Cannon coached in the 1990, 1992 and 1994 Division II playoffs. While a member of the coaching staff at Western Illinois University, Cannon helped the Leathernecks appear in the FCS playoffs in 1997 and
1998. The 1998 squad finished in the semi-finals. In 2012, Cannon coached the Defensive Backs for Central Michigan University to a Little Caesars Pizza Bowl victory.
The Alexandria, Missouri native, graduated from Clark County High School and attended Missouri State University, where he was a quarterback and a pitcher. In 1981, he graduated with a bachelors degree in Physical Education. In 2011, Cannon was inducted into the Missouri State University Hall of Fame. Cannon also has a Masters of Science degree from Iowa State University.
Cannon resides in Quincy with his wife, Lisa.Â
