The Adrian College football office announced the addition of Ron Shiels in the winter of 2023. Shiels will serve as the new Defensive Coordinator. Shiels returns to the team after serving as an assistant coach from 2004-09. Shiels moves across town as he spent four seasons serving as the defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach with Siena Heights. The 2025 season will mark his eighth with the Adrian College Bulldogs.
Coach Shiels was a 2004 graduate of Adrian College where he was a four-year starter on the football team as a defensive back and strong safety. During his time in college, he was All-MIAA three times, was named team captain, and All-Region selection, and an All-American selection.
During his first coaching stint at Adrian, the Bulldogs had the fourth ranked offense in Division III during the 2007 season, a top-20 defense in 2008, and the sixth ranked defense in 2009. Shiels went on to coach at Siena Heights the next season as defensive coordinator where he specialized with the defensive backs. During the 2010 season, the Saints finished 9-1 and allowed less than 10 points per game.
From there, he went on to Saline High School from 2012-2016 where he assisted in a combined record of 41-7. The defense ranked first in Michigan D1 High School football and was 15th in the country while only allowing 12 points per game. He coached six MHSAA All-State Players, one MHSAA Dream Team Player and three players who went on to play Division I college football.
The bulk on Coach Shiels' accomplishments came in his most recent coaching stint with Siena Heights were he was the defensive coordinator since 2017. In his first season the team ranked 22nd in the NAIA in points allowed per game, 16th in yards allowed per game, and 11th in pass defense. In 2018, the defense led the Saints to a top-25 ranking to end the season before the second best defense in the NAIA allowing 14.1 points per game. In 2019, the team finished the year ranked 20th behind the fourth ranked defense, which quickly turned into the top ranked defense in NAIA after allowing just 8.5 points per game. In his final season with Siena Heights, the team finished as the sixth ranked defense while forcing 23 turnovers during the year.
He coached four All-Americans, two league MVP's, and the Mid-States Player of the Year in addition to multiple All-Conference selections.
Shiels resides in Adrian, Michigan.
*Updated as of July 1, 2025*
