Burrell football coach Shawn Liotta named general manager for USA Football U20 team

By: Michael Love
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 | 2:05 PM

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Burrell football coach Shawn Liotta will serve as the general manager for the U.S. Under-20 national tackle football team that will take part in this summer’s International Federation of American Football World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, USA Football announced Tuesday.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to work with USA Football’s U.S. Tackle National Team again,” Liotta said.

“This is the first IFAF World Junior Championship in roughly half a decade, so it’s a unique opportunity for elite coaches and athletes from across the country to experience international competition. We are going to field the best staff and team possible to compete in Canada and fulfill our goal of winning a gold medal.”

A coach and administrator at the high school, college and professional levels for 25 years, Liotta has past international coaching experience as he served as the offensive coordinator for the 2020 U.S. U18 national team that defeated Canada in the International Bowl.

Liotta recently served as the director of coaching and a head coach in Fan Controlled Football (FCF) where he worked with players such as Martavis Bryant, Johnny Manziel, Terrell Owens, Terrance Williams and other former NFL players.

The 2024 World Junior Championship will be from June 20-30, and feature competition from at least seven nations, including Australia, Brazil, host Canada, Japan and Panama.

The U.S. has won two World Junior Championships (2009 and 2014). Canada leads the way with three wins (2012, 2016 and 2018).

The covid pandemic canceled the 2020 tournament and the subsequent rescheduled event in 2021.

American National Team alumni include Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman and Malik Herring from the Kansas City Chiefs and 15 NFL first-round picks, including Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.

Other alums include All-Pros Trevon Diggs, Tyrann Mathieu and Jonathan Taylor.

Liotta enters his seventh season as head coach of Burrell this fall.

He’s helped lead the Bucs to three consecutive playoff berths for the first time in two decades.

“Shawn’s track record across multiple programs and levels of competition speaks for itself,” said Eric Mayes, USA Football managing director for high performance and national teams.

“We are fortunate to have him joining our program as general manager of the U20 tackle national team and look forward to working with him to assemble and lead a team capable of winning the IFAF World Junior Championship.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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