News Summary
Byron Dawson is recognized as a nominee for the Top Business Professional of the Year, highlighting his contributions to Centenary College’s football program.
Shreveport, Louisiana – Byron Dawson has been recognized as a 2025 nominee for the Top Business Professional of the Year by the Greater Shreveport Chamber as part of the upcoming Minority Business Opportunity Awards. This prestigious acknowledgment highlights Dawson’s contributions to the local business community and his pivotal role in reviving the Centenary College football program. The nominees for this award will be honored at the annual Minority Business Opportunity Awards Dinner, scheduled to take place on June 26 at Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino.
Under Dawson’s leadership, the Centenary football team made a notable comeback in the 2024 season, achieving a record of 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). This was a significant turnaround as it marked the return of the football program to Centenary after a hiatus of more than 50 years.
Dawson, a Shreveport native, has a rich background in athletics. He excelled during his high school career at Evangel Christian Academy, where he was recognized as the USA Today High School All-American Defensive MVP for Louisiana. Additionally, he helped Evangel secure a perfect 15-0 record in 1997, contributing to three state championships and earning a national ranking of No. 17. His talents were not limited to football; he also won back-to-back state championships in the shot put during his junior and senior years.
Following his success at Evangel, Dawson pursued higher education at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, where he played as a defensive lineman. He was a four-year letterman, recording 86 tackles and four sacks, while playing under prominent coaches, including Nick Saban. Dawson was part of the 2001 LSU team that won the SEC Championship and triumphed over Illinois in the Sugar Bowl.
The Gents’ upcoming 2025 season is set to kick off on September 6 with a game against Westgate Christian University at Atkins Field. The team will participate in a total of nine regular-season games, featuring five matches at home and four on the road. Their first conference game is scheduled for October 4 against Austin College in Sherman, Texas, with the first home conference matchup taking place on October 11 against Texas Lutheran University. Championship weekend for the SCAC will occur on November 15 in Little Rock, Arkansas, with three games determining the league champion.
Dawson’s extensive coaching career began at Redemptorist High School in Baton Rouge in 2004, followed by a 15-year tenure at Evangel. During this time, his teams reached the Louisiana State Championship game seven times, and he became renowned for his ability to develop NFL talent. His coaching accolades include being named the AIM National Coach of the Year in 2017 and receiving multiple Coach of the Year honors at city, state, and national levels.
In 2020, Dawson took on the role of defensive line coach at Tulane University, where he made a notable impact as the team ranked high in various defensive statistics. He also gained invaluable experience through the NFL’s Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship Program with the Los Angeles Rams as a defensive line coaching intern.
Dawson expressed enthusiasm about leading the football program at Centenary College and emphasized the significance of reintroducing college football to the Shreveport-Bossier area. His commitment and leadership have not only revitalized a historic program but have also positively influenced the local community’s engagement with the sport.
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Additional Resources
- Crescent City Sports: Byron Dawson Named Centenary Head Football Coach
- Centenary College: Byron Dawson Coaching Profile
- Shreveport Times: Evangels’ Dawson Takes Collegiate Coaching Job
- Tulane Green Wave: Byron Dawson Coaching Profile
- WGNO: Byron Dawson to Lead Centenary’s Return to Football
- Wikipedia: Football
- Google Search: Byron Dawson
- Google Scholar: Byron Dawson
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Byron Dawson
- Google News: Byron Dawson
