Eastern Michigan University Athletics

Entering his third year at EMU is Munir Prince, who came to Ypsilanti after spending time as the head football coach for Webster Groves (Mo.) High School. Prince will serve as EMU’s cornerbacks coach.

Prince has college coaching experience at the University of Missouri, Drake University, Missouri State University, and Pittsburg State University. During his playing career as a defensive back for Missouri, he was a part of multiple Big 12 Conference North Division championship teams and several bowls. He started his collegiate playing career at the University of Notre Dame.

Prince’s cornerbacks had a strong season in 2023 as freshman Daiquan White was Named the EMU E-Gridiron Group Defensive Newcomer of the Year and earned College Football Network Honorable Mention Freshman All-American. White led the squad in pass break ups with 12, ranking third in the MAC and earned the right to wear the 0 jersey at Toledo, Nov. 8. He also tabbed a tackle for loss at Central Michigan, Sept. 30, and recovered a fumble versus Western Michigan, Oct. 28.

Additionally, Bennett Walker led the team in interceptions with three, also slotting third in the conference, as he snagged two of them in the 19-17 win over UMass, Sept. 16. 

Moreover, Kempton Shine recorded the most tackles of his career with 56 total stops (31 solo, 25 assisted) throughout the season. Additionally, he broke up nine passes, the second highest total on the team. Shine concluded his time in Ypsilanti (2019-23) with 26 PBUs, ranking him second in program history. 

Last season, he helped Eastern Michigan rank first in the MAC in interceptions (13, tied) and second in opponent completion percentage (54.9 pct.) during its 9-4 campaign.

Kempton Shine recorded 30 tackles, 13 passes defended, and one interception. Shine’s 13 knock-a-ways are tied for the second-most in a single season during the modern statistical era. His best game occurred against Buffalo, Sept. 24, when he notched seven stops and three breakups. Meanwhile, Joshua Scott totaled four pass break ups, the second most in EMU single-game history, and an interception against San Jose State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl triumph.

Prince, who served as Webster Groves’ interim coach for a portion of the 2021 season, was also the school’s assistant athletic director. He had been an assistant football coach since 2020.Before joining the high school ranks, he briefly spent time at NCAA Division II member, Pittsburg State University.

Prince worked for five seasons (2015-19) at Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) member, Missouri State. Working first as the running backs coach, he shifted to cornerbacks coach beginning with the 2018 season.

In 2018, Prince mentored a veteran group of corners that accounted for 128 tackles on the season. The trio of Darius Joseph, Matt Rush, and Zack Sander combined to make all 22 starts at the two cornerback positions for the Bears.

Before shifting to defense, Prince helped develop a balanced and versatile stable of running backs that combined for over 4,000 yards of total offense the last three seasons. Most notably, Jason Randall and Calan Crowder teamed up to run for 2,255 yards and 19 touchdowns. In 2017, the Bears ranked third among all MVFC teams in team rushing per game (185.1 ypg) during league play.

In his first campaign with the Bears, Prince oversaw a running back group that included three different regulars who totaled more than 300 ground yards for the 2015 season. Randall posted a pair of 77-yard games, while Crowder registered a Bears’ season-high 164-yard day against Chadron State.

Prince arrived in Springfield, Mo. after a brief stint as an assistant coach at Drake University, where he coached the Bulldogs’ tight ends. Previously, he worked as an account executive for Drake IMG Sports Marketing for one year before joining the DU coaching staff.

Prince earned two degrees from Missouri, finishing his bachelor’s degree in business management in 2010, before completing an MBA program in 2012 while assisting Head Coach Gary Pinkel’s coaching staff as an offensive graduate assistant.

As a player, Prince was a part of two Big 12 North Division championship teams and three bowl squads (Alamo Bowl - 2008;  Texas Bowl - 2009) during his own playing career as a defensive back for the Tigers.

A St. Louis native, Prince began his collegiate career at Notre Dame, playing in 20 total games as a running back and defensive back during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

Prince and his wife, Alison, welcomed their first child in July 2022.

 

The Munir Prince File
Name:	Munir A. Prince
High School:	DeSmet - St. Louis, Mo.
College:	University of Missouri - Bachelor’s degree in Business management - 2010
	University of Missouri - Master’s degree in Business administration - 2012
Family:	Wife - Alison
Coaching Experience
Year	School	Position
2022-Present	Eastern Michigan University	Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks
2020-22	Webster Groves High School	Head Football Coach/Assistant Athletic Director
2020	Pittsburg State University	Assistant Football Coach/Cornerbacks/Video Coordinator
2017-19	Missouri State University	Assistant Football Coach/Cornerbacks/Video Coordinator
2015-16	Missouri State University	Assistant Football Coach/Running backs
2014	Drake University	Assistant Football Coach/Tight ends
2013-14	Drake IMG Sports Marketing	Account Executive
2010-12	University of Missouri	Graduate Assistant
2008-09	University of Missouri	Student-athlete
2006-07	University of Notre Dame	Student-athlete