Fork Union Military Academy Athletics

Hired in July 2016. 

Mark Shuman, the son of John and Patricia Shuman, took over the prep football team following former head coach Mike Hooper as the ninth head coach in program history in January of 2019.
 
Shuman grew up in Fork Union and enrolled in the Academy as a sixth grader in 2003. The 2010 graduate played for Coach Mickey Sullivan for three years and helped the Blue Devils to a 2007 Prep League Championship. 
 
Shuman was a recipient of the Sullivan and Paul Frederick Cobb award while at Fork Union. The Sullivan Award is presented to Prep football players who demonstrated the qualities exemplified by Coach Mickey Sullivan: always positive, fiercely persistent, dedicated students, charismatic communicators, and dedicated to their faith. The Paul Frederick Cobb Award is awarded to the non-varsity football player who is considered most valuable to this team and who displays the high qualities of character and sportsmanship. 
 
As a highly recruited prospect, the Fork Union, Va., native signed a National Letter of Intent with Virginia Tech to play for legendary coach Frank Beamer. Plagued by injuries, the offensive lineman lettered in 2013 and graduated in 2014 with a degree in Sociology. 
 
He returned to his hometown in 2016 and has worked in the Commandants Department for the past three years. In addition to the Commandants Department, Shuman coached two seasons with the prep football team, as the offensive and defensive line coach prior to being promoted to the post graduate football team in 2018. 
 
Shuman helped Coach John Shuman to his first-ever undefeated season in 2018. 
 
"It is an honor and privilege to be named the next head prep football coach of Fork Union Military Academy," said Mark Shuman. "Growing up in Fork Union and being a product of the Academy only makes this feeling more surreal for me. I want to thank Col. David Coggins, Col. Tony Moss and Director of Athletics John Shuman for this opportunity. I am excited to try to get the prep program back to where it was."
 
Shuman is the grandson of Bill and Jell Miller, who both worked at the Academy for over 30 years serving many roles in the Athletic Department. His sister, Kelly, is an assistant athletic director at Fork Union.