Shane Tolleson is in his first season as a member of the Mulerider football staff and will coach the running backs. He comes to SAU from Arkansas State where he was a graduate assistant coach working with the defensive line and linebackers and served as assistant special teams’ coordinator for the past four years.

While with the Indians, Tolleson helped guide ASU to the Sun Belt Conference Championship, an appearance in the New Orleans Bowl, and to the most Division IA wins in the school’s history.

Tolleson was a two-year letterman for Arkansas State from 2001-2002, playing for current Indian, and former Southern Arkansas Head Coach, Steve Roberts. Tolleson started one season at linebacker and the other at fullback. He played his first two years (1999-2000) collegiately at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas, where he was a starting linebacker for Head Coach Chuck Lawrence.

Tolleson prepped at Corsicana High School where he was a three-year starting linebacker for Coach Tom Wilson and assistant Jeff Berry. He was a First Team All-State selection, Corsicana’s team MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, and the school’s all-time leading tackler.

Over three summers, Tolleson assisted with the Steve Roberts’ Football Camp, serving as head coach for the 7th-9th grade teams.

Tolleson earned his B.A. in criminology in 2004 and his M.P.A. in public administration in 2006, both from Arkansas State.

A native of Corsicana, he and his wife, Katie, reside in Magnolia.