Clark Lea and the Vanderbilt Commodores are promoting from within to fill their open nickelback coaching position. They are “expected” to promote assistant defensive backs coach Arion Shinaver, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Shinaver has been at Vanderbilt since 2022, when he was hired as a scouting assistant and defensive intern. He then served as a graduate assistant with the defense in 2023, helping the linebackers. Vanderbilt is the only college he has worked at after playing wide receiver for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 2016-19, and working in finance for two years. A former walk-on, he played in seven games and helped the offensive scout team throughout his career.
He was promoted to assistant safeties coach in 2024, a position he held in 2025 as well. Safeties CJ Heard, Randon Fontenette, and Marien Sewell all ranked top five on the team in tackles last season, with Head recording a team-high 71.
Shinaver participated in the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship before the 2024 and 2025 seasons, getting to work with the Las Vegas Raiders coaching staff and focusing on special teams. He is replacing Jimmy Thompson, who left last week to join the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL after coaching Vanderbilt’s nickels for two seasons.
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