Entering her ninth season as head coach, Shannan Bergen has become one of the top coaches in the Gulf South Conference. She has led the Argonauts to a 131-89 record and three GSC East Division titles. In the last four seasons, Bergen's has posted a 74-39 record with a GSC East Division title, four GSC Tournament appearances and one trip to the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament. Bergen has also been recognized as the GSC Coach of the Year twice.

In the 2005-06 season, Bergen led West Florida to their first GSC East Division title and NCAA Division II South Region Tournament appearance since the 1998-99 season. The Argonauts finished with a 23-7 record, including 12-2 against conference opponents. At the GSC Tournament, West Florida defeated West Alabama before falling in overtime to eventual GSC Champion Delta State. Advancing to their first south region tournament in seven years, West Florida knocked off Fort Valley State, before falling to eventually south region champion Henderson State. For her efforts, Bergen was chosen as the GSC Co-Coach of the Year along with Craig Rhoden of West Georgia.

After two losing seasons, Bergen brought West Florida back to prominence in the 2003-04 season with a 20-7 record and a GSC Tournament appearance. Erin Vierling also became Bergen's second Argonaut to earn GSC East Division Player of the Year honors. West Florida continued their success in the 2004-05 season as Bergen led the Argonauts to their second consecutive winning season with an 18-10 record. The Argonauts advanced to their seventh GSC Tournament, and Michelle Gibson became the second straight Argonaut to earn GSC East Division Player of the year honors. For her efforts, Bergen received GSC Coach of the Year honors for the first time in her career.

Bergen came to West Florida after one season as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I University of North Carolina-Asheville. At UNCA, she was responsible for planning and coordinating the program's film exchange and team travel arrangements, as well as assisting in recruiting, on-court coaching and daily office administration. Bergen concentrated on coaching the perimeter players at UNCA. The Bulldogs Vicki Griffin led the Big South Conference in scoring after one year under Bergen's tutelage.

A graduate of Radford University, Bergen finished her playing career third on the Highlanders all-time scoring list with 1,714 points. She led Radford to the 1994 NCAA Tournament and was named the most valuable player of the Big South Conference Tournament in her junior and senior seasons. As a freshman, she earned the BSC Rookie of the Year award and was a two-time All-BSC First Team selection. Bergen was inducted into the Radford Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002. Bergen became the first dual sport all-conference selection in the history of the Big South when she finished tenth at the 1994 BSC Cross Country Championships. Adding to her athletic resume, she lettered for the Radford softball team in her senior season.

Growing up in Edinboro, Pa., she is the all-time leading scorer at General McLane High School, where she had her jersey retired. She also lettered in cross country and softball at General McLane.

Bergen earned her bachelor's degree in recreation/leisure services, with a concentration on therapeutic recreation from Radford.. She obtained her master's degree in exercise science from West Florida in 2003.

The former Shannon Wilkey, she is married to Dr. John Bergen. The couple has two children, a son, Brett, and a daughter, Paige Kathlynn.