University of Connecticut Athletics
Coach Shearer Excited To Be Back At UConn
8/26/2022 11:47:00 PM | Football
Aug. 26, 2022
For University of Connecticut special teams coach Doug Shearer, the opportunity to be a part of the UConn football team means more than just representing the program.
"When you work for the state university and you play for the state university, you represent not just the university, but the entire state of Connecticut," Shearer said. "Whether you're from here or not, that's who we represent, so it's important that we make those people proud every Saturday."
Coming back to the Huskies after graduating from UConn and serving as a graduate assistant in 2013, Shearer immediately felt a new and positive change in the atmosphere when he returned to Storrs.
"I think Coach Mora talks about the feeling all the time," Shearer said. "We talked about it last Saturday after our mock game. It's awesome to be back at UConn, a place that for me is home, where I'm from, and where I went to school."
One of the newest members of the UConn football coaching staff, Shearer has the job of working with the special teams, an area of the program that experienced highlights last season like Brian Brewton's 99-yard kick return touchdown against Clemson. To be able to coach Brewton as a returner, Shearer says, has been awesome.
"He's a really awesome kid. Every single day, he comes in with a smile on his face and I have huge respect for him," Shearer said. "It's been awesome to have him back there."
Along with coaching players like Brewton, Shearer has been able to get to know players like Noe Ruelas, the team's sophomore placekicker who steps into an important role this year with the season-ending injury to starter Joe McFadden. With McFadded continuing to be a leader from the sidelines and Ruelas embracing his role for the Huskies, the UConn coach is proud of how the two players have helped make the position a strong area of the team.
"Noe was ready when his number was called," Shearer said. "Noe has stepped up. He's a great kid. He's got an awesome leg. He's so talented and I can't wait to see him play.
"There's no one who's handled that situation of adversity better than Joe McFadden. There's no doubt in my mind that he's going to come back stronger than ever. He's handled this like a pro."
As a transfer coming to UConn and fresh off being named to the Patrick Mannelly Long Snapper Award watch list, Tommy Zozus has continued to bring experience for the team as a sixth-year long snapper. After recently being named to the All-American Special Teams U Watch List, Shearer says that Zozus is as talented a snapper as he's been around.
"His speed, his accuracy, his understanding of the position is at a really high level," Shearer said, "so it's really a privilege for me to work with someone like that every day."
