Shepherd Rams

Last updated

Shepherd Rams
Shepherd Rams logo.svg
University Shepherd University
Conference Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
NCAA Division II
Athletic directorChauncey Winbush
Location Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Varsity teams15
Football stadium Ram Stadium
Basketball arena Butcher Center
Baseball stadiumFairfax Field
Soccer stadiumShepherd Soccer Complex
MascotJ.C.
NicknameRams
ColorsBlue and Gold
   
Website shepherdrams.com

The Shepherd Rams are the athletic teams that represent Shepherd University (formerly Shepherd College), located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, in Division II intercollegiate sports of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Rams compete as members of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference [1] (PSAC) for all 15 varsity sports since the 2019–20 academic year. They previously competed in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) from 2013–14 to 2018–19, and before that, the now-defunct West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) from 1924–25 to 2012–13.

Contents

Varsity teams

List of teams

Individual teams

Baseball

The head coach position is Andrew Kowalo. He comes to Shepherd after serving as an assistant coach at Liberty University since 2022. [2] The former head coach, Matt McCarty, announced his resignation on July 1, 2024, to become the head baseball coach at Francis Marion University. [3]

The Ram baseball team has won the WVIAC/MEC championship in 1983, 1984, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2016. and 2017.

Football

The current head coach is Ernie McCook, a 1992 graduate of Wesley College. McCook was elevated to head coach after the retirement of longtime coach Monte Cater. [4] McCook previously served as offensive line coach at Shepherd from 1999 to 2008 and was also the offensive coordinator starting in 2000. McCook was elevated to assistant head coach in 2007. He spent the 2009 season as running game coordinator/tight ends coach at Liberty University, before returning to Shepherd the next season, where he served as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator for the next seven years.

After the 2021 football season, Junior QB Tyson Bagent won the Harlon Hill Trophy for most outstanding Division II player, the first Shepherd player to win the award. [5] [6]

The NAIA Years (pre-1994)

YearRecordRank
19874–64th
19886–4T-1st
19893–76th
19906-3-13rd
19918–31st
19929–31st
19935–52nd
Postseason First Steps

In 1983, Shepherd reached the post-season for the first time in school history, losing to Carson-Newman 42–21 in the first round of the NAIA playoffs.

The Rams again advanced to the playoffs in 1986 and again they lost to Carson-Newman 30–10 in the first round.

In 1991, they advanced and this time they lost to Central State 34–22 in the first round.

Finally in 1992, the Rams earned their first ever post-season win by beating Carson-Newman 6–3. In the next round, however, they lost to Gardner–Webb 22–7.

The NCAA DII Years (1994–present)

YearRecordRank
19946–4T-1st in WVIAC
19953–75th in WVIAC
19967–33rd in WVIAC
19979–1T-1st in WVIAC
199810–11st in WVIAC
19999–11st in WVIAC
20007–33rd in WVIAC
20018–2T-2nd in WVIAC
20027–3T-2nd in WVIAC
20034–6T-2nd in WVIAC
20047–31st in WVIAC
2005 11–01st in WVIAC
2006 10–01st in WVIAC
2007 9–11st in WVIAC
20085–5T-6th in WVIAC
20096–44th in WVIAC
2010 9–11st in WVIAC
20119–2T-2nd in WVIAC
2012 8–21st in WVIAC
2013 10–01st in MEC
20148–22nd in MEC
2015 10–01st in MEC
2016 10–01st in MEC
2017 10–01st in MEC
20187–33rd in MEC
2019 9–22nd in PSAC East, T-2nd overall
2020cancelled due to COVID pandemic
2021 10–12nd in PSAC East, T-2nd overall
2022 10–11st in PSAC East, T-1st overall
20239-22nd in PSAC East, T-3rd overall
= Lost the PSAC Championship game
Postseason success
YearFirst RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship
1998 @ IUP, W 9–6N/A@ Slippery Rock, L 20–31N/AN/A
1999 @ Millersville, L 14–21N/AN/AN/AN/A
2005 N/Avs. LIU Post, L 21–28N/AN/A
2006 N/Avs. Merrimack, W 31–7vs. Bloomsburg, L 21–24N/AN/A
2007 N/Avs. IUP, W 41–34@ California, L 38–58N/AN/A
2010 vs. Shaw, W 40–6@ Kutztown, W 41–34@ Mercyhurst, W 48–14@ Delta State, L 17–29N/A
2012 @ IUP, L 17–27N/AN/AN/AN/A
2013 N/Avs. Winston-Salem State, W 7–0vs. West Chester, L 7–28N/AN/A
2015 N/Avs. IUP, W 17–13vs. Slippery Rock, W 28–16vs. Grand Valley State, W 34–32vs. Northwest Missouri State, L 7–34
2016 vs. Assumption, W 48–31@ LIU Post, W 40–21@ California, W 41–30vs. North Alabama, L 13–23N/A
2017 vs. Findlay, L 17–29N/AN/AN/AN/A
2019 @ IUP, W 31–27@ Slippery Rock, L 30–51N/AN/AN/A
2021 vs. Findlay, W 38–31vs. Notre Dame (OH), W 38–34@ Kutztown W 30–28@ Ferris State, L 7–55N/A
2022 vs. New Haven, W 16–13vs. Slippery Rock, W 37–27@ IUP, W 48–13@ Colorado School of Mines, L 13-44N/A
2023@ Lenoir-Rhyne, L 17-63N/AN/AN/AN/A

Note: The NCAA expanded the playoff field from 16 to 24 teams in 2000 and from 24 to 28 teams in 2015.

Volleyball

The current head coach is Alex Hoekstra, a 2010 graduate of University of Mount Olive. [7]

Notable Shepherd Athletes

Baseball

Shepherd has had four baseball players [8] drafted by MLB:

Other notable Shepherd baseball players:

Football

Shepherd has had 3 football players [16] drafted by the NFL:

Other notable Shepherd football players:

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References

  1. ↑ "Shepherd University to Join PSAC in 2019–20" (Press release). Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Kowalo Named Shepherd Head Baseball Coach".
  3. ↑ "McCarty Resigns to Accept Position with Francis Marion".
  4. ↑ "Cater Announces Retirement; McCook Named Head Coach". Shepherd University Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Tyson Bagent wins 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy, becomes first Shepherd Ram to win award". December 17, 2021.
  6. ↑ "18 Dec 2021, B2 - The Post-Star at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Alex Hoekstra – Women's Volleyball Coach". Shepherd University Athletics.
  8. ↑ "Shepherd College Baseball Players". Baseball-Reference.com. January 1, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Official Athletic Site of Shepherd University". January 5, 2014. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Nathan Minnich Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Official Athletic Site of Shepherd University". October 27, 2013. Archived from the original on October 27, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Carr Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 13th Round". Shepherdrams.com.
  13. ↑ "Lefty Willis Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Frank Funk Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Cecil Perkins Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Shepherd Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Wayne Wilson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. September 4, 1957. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Ferrum Panthers Mobile – Joel Gordon". Archived from the original on February 1, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Shepherd University – Faunteroy Selected for Bill Walsh NFL Minority Fellowship". Shepherdrams.com. December 6, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Thunder Acquire Division II Standout". Arenafootball.Com. December 4, 2014. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Steelers Agree To Terms With 9 Rookie Free agents". Steelers.com. May 10, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Eagles sign Billy Brown to UDFA deal, roster now at 90". phi.247sports.com. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Eagles sign 10 undrafted rookies". philly.com. May 11, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Former Shepherd Quarterback Jeff Ziemba signs with Baltimore Lightning". SU Picket. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Jeff Ziemba, Arizona Rattlers, Offensive Player of the Week". philly.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  26. ↑ "QB ZIEMBA NAMED 2018 IFL OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Arizona Rattlers". Azrattlers.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Team Roster | Chicago Bears Official Website". Chicagobears.com.
  28. ↑ "Bears announce 53-man roster". Chicagobears.com.
  29. ↑ "Players Arrive for Mninicamp". Chicagobears.com.
  30. ↑ "9/1: Redskins Make Roster Moves". Washingtonfootball.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  31. ↑ "Former Ram DeJuan Neal Drafted by the New Jersey Generals". Shepherd University Athletics.
  32. ↑ "DB DeJuan Neal has agreed to terms with the Commanders per his agent @seanstellato. Quite a journey for Neal: from Shepherd to the XFL and USFL; now with Washington". Twitter.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  33. ↑ "DB DeJuan Neal out of Shepherd University, who has traveled a windy road from the XFL to the USFL, has now agreed to terms with the Washington #Commanders, per agent @seanstellato". Twitter.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Phelps Signs with the Arizona Cardinals". Shepherd University Athletics.
  35. ↑ "Deonte Glover Drafted by Edmonton Football Team in CFL Draft". Shepherd University Athletics.
  36. ↑ "Houston Gamblers Select Shepherd Product OG Joey Fisher in USFL Draft". February 21, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Steelers Sign PSAC Star Guard to Practice Squad". August 30, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Fisher Signed to the Practice Squad of the Cleveland Browns".
  39. ↑ "Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign running back Ronnie Brown". January 6, 2024.
  40. ↑ https://3downnation.com/2024/05/17/ottawa-redblacks-sign-two-including-former-blue-bombers-rb-ronnie-brown/ [ bare URL ]
  41. ↑ "Brian Walker: Cut by Baltimore". June 13, 2023.
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