Shepherd Rams football

Last updated

Shepherd Rams football
AmericanFootball current event.svg 2025 Shepherd Rams football team
Sheph rams wordmark.png
First season1920
Athletic directorChauncey Winbush
Head coach Ernie McCook
8th season, 59–18 (.766)
Stadium Ram Stadium
(capacity: 5,000)
Field surfaceFieldturf
Location Shepherdstown, West Virginia
NCAA division Division II
Conference Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference [1]
DivisionEast
Past conferences WVIAC (1925–2012)
MEC (2013-2018)
All-time record56033926 (.619)
National finalist1 (2015)
Playoff appearances19
1983, 1986, 1991,
1992, 1998, 1999,
2005, 2006, 2007,
2010, 2012, 2013,
2015, 2016, 2017
2019, 2021, 2022,
2023 [2]
Playoff record(Div. II): 20-15
(NAIA): 1-4
Conference titles22
1955, 1972, 1982,
1983, 1986, 1988,
1991, 1992, 1994,
1997, 1998, 1999,
2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2010, 2012,
2013, 2015, 2016,
2017
Division titles5
1976, 1977, 1978,
1980, 2022
Rivalries Frostburg State [3]
Shippensburg
ColorsBlue and gold [4]
   
Marching bandRAM Band
Outfitter Under Armour
Website Shepherd Rams football

The Shepherd Rams football program represents Shepherd University in college football at the NCAA Division II level in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Shepherd has played its home games at Ram Stadium since 1959. [5]

Contents

History

Monte Cater era

Monte Cater served as the head football coach at Shepherd University from 1987 to 2017, becoming the winningest coach in both Shepherd and West Virginia college football history. Over his 31 seasons at the helm, Cater compiled a record of 245–93–1, leading the Rams to 17 conference championships and 13 postseason appearances. [6]

Before Cater’s arrival, Shepherd had made the postseason only a handful of times. In 1983, the Rams reached the playoffs for the first time in school history, losing to Carson–Newman 42–21 in the opening round of the NAIA playoffs. They returned to the postseason in 1986 and again fell to Carson–Newman, 30–10. In 1991, Shepherd advanced to the playoffs and lost to Central State 34–22. The Rams finally earned their first-ever postseason win in 1992, defeating Carson–Newman 6–3 before falling to Gardner–Webb 22–7 in the next round. [7]

Under Cater’s leadership, Shepherd became a dominant program in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC), winning 12 conference titles. When the university transitioned to the newly formed Mountain East Conference (MEC) in 2013, Cater continued the program’s success, capturing four MEC championships in five seasons.

One of the hallmark seasons of Cater’s tenure came in 2015, when Shepherd went 13–1 and reached the NCAA Division II Football Championship game for the first time in program history, ultimately falling to Northwest Missouri State. [8]

On December 5, 2015 with a win over Slippery Rock in the Super 1 Region Final, Cater achieved his 250th victory as a college football coach. [9]

On January 24, 2018 Cater announced his retirement after 31 seasons at Shepherd. He was replaced by longtime assistant Ernie McCook. Cater had been the active wins leader in all levels of college football with 274 career victories. Cater led Shepherd to 13 post season trips, 2 NAIA and 11 NCAA DII. 3 NCAA DII semifinal appearances (2010, 2015 & 2016) and a national championship game appearance in 2015.

Moving to the PSAC

On May 31, 2018, Shepherd University accepted an invitation to join the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference as a full-time member, with competition beginning in the 2019–20 academic year. The move came after the PSAC Board of Directors approved the university’s admission, expanding the conference’s membership and strengthening its footprint in the Mid-Atlantic region.

“We are pleased to welcome the Shepherd Rams to the PSAC family of institutions,” said PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. “Shepherd University brings with it an outstanding athletic and academic tradition, along with a perfect geographic fit for the conference. We’ve made the PSAC even stronger today.”

Shepherd’s addition followed the departure of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, which exited NCAA Division II competition after the 2017–18 season. With Shepherd’s arrival, the PSAC maintained its 18-member structure heading into 2019. The Rams joined the PSAC Eastern Division, aligning them with Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, Commonwealth University-Mansfield, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and West Chester University. [10]

Ernie McCook era

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. [11] 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. [12] [13]

Head coaches

CoachTenure
A. D. Kenamond 1920
Withrow Legge 1921–1924
John Newcome 1925–1941
Cletus Lowe 1946–1947
Don L. Phillips 1948–1950
William M. Moore 1951–1952
Donald E. Fuoss 1953–1955
Jesse Riggleman 1956–1966
Roger Parker 1967–1970
Walter Barr 1971–1985
Mike Jacobs1986
Monte Cater 1987–2017
Ernie McCook 2018–present

[14]

Conference affiliations

[15]

Championships

Conference championships

Shepherd claims 22 conference championships [16]

YearConferenceCoachOverall recordConference record
1955 WVIAC Donald E. Fuoss 8-04-0
1972 WVIAC Walter Barr7-35-0
1982 WVIAC Walter Barr7-2-17-1
1983 WVIAC Walter Barr9-28-0
1986 WVIAC Mike Jacobs8-37-0
1988† WVIAC Monte Cater 6-46-1
1991 WVIAC Monte Cater8-37-0
1992 WVIAC Monte Cater9-37-0
1994† WVIAC Monte Cater6-45-1
1997† WVIAC Monte Cater9-16-0
1998 WVIAC Monte Cater10-27-0
1999 WVIAC Monte Cater9-26-0
2004 WVIAC Monte Cater7-37-0
2005 WVIAC Monte Cater11-18-0
2006 WVIAC Monte Cater11-17-0
2007 WVIAC Monte Cater10-27-1
2010 WVIAC Monte Cater12-27-1
2012 WVIAC Monte Cater8-37-1
2013 Mountain East Conference Monte Cater11-19-0
2015 Mountain East Conference Monte Cater13-110-0
2016 Mountain East Conference Monte Cater13-110-0
2017 Mountain East Conference Monte Cater10-110-0

† Co-champions

Division championships

YearDivisionCoachCG OpponentResult
1976 WVIAC NorthernWalter Barr Concord L 7-21
1977† WVIAC NorthernWalter BarrN/A lost tiebreaker to West Virginia Wesleyan
1978 WVIAC NorthernWalter Barr Concord L 14-35
1980† WVIAC NorthernWalter Barr Concord L 0-19
2022 PSAC East Ernie McCook Indiana (PA) L 21-24

† Co-champions

Awards and honors

National awards

Harlon Hill Trophy
YearPlayerClassPositionDate awardedRef.
2021 Tyson Bagent JRQBJanuary 14, 2022 [17]

Seasons

[18]

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs Final
ranking#
Shepherd Rams (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)(1925–1955)
1955 Shepherd8-04-01st
Shepherd Rams (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NAIA)(1956–1994)
1956 Shepherd6-24-13rd
1957 Shepherd3-42-26th
1958 Shepherd5-2-14-0-12nd
1959 Shepherd4-43-22nd (Eastern)
1960 Shepherd5-32-2T-4th (Eastern)
1961 Shepherd5-21-2
1962 Shepherd7-1-11-1-22nd (Eastern)
1963 Shepherd7-1-12-1-12nd (Eastern)
1964 Shepherd3-52-26th
1965 Shepherd2-50-3
1966 Shepherd1-80-410th
1967 Shepherd3-51-1
1968 Shepherd2-70-310th
1969 Shepherd6-41-37th
1970 Shepherd5-52-25th
1971 Shepherd7-1-23-1-25th
1972 Shepherd7-35-01st
1973 Shepherd6-44-24th (Northern)
1974 Shepherd2-91-64th (Northern)
1975 Shepherd8-35-22nd (Northern)
1976 Shepherd10-24-01st (Nothern)5
1977 Shepherd6-43-1T-1st (Northern)
1978 Shepherd7-46-3T-1st (Northern)
1979 Shepherd5-55-44th (Northern)
1980 Shepherd7-3-16-2-11st (Northern)19
1981 Shepherd7-26-22nd16
1982 Shepherd7-2-17-11st10
1983 Shepherd9-28-01stL NAIA Division I Quarterfinal 5
1984 Shepherd7-36-22nd16
1985 Shepherd5-55-2T-2nd
1986 Shepherd8-37-01stL NAIA Division I Quarterfinal 7
1987 Shepherd4–63–4T–4th
1988 Shepherd6–46–1T–1st19
1989 Shepherd3–72–4T–5th
1990 Shepherd6–3–14–1–1T–2nd11
1991 Shepherd8–37–01stL NAIA Division I Quarterfinal 6
1992 Shepherd9–37–01stL NAIA Division I Semifinal 6
1993 Shepherd5–55–2T–2nd
1994 Shepherd6–45–1T–1st10
Shepherd Rams (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Div II)(1995–2012)
1995 Shepherd3–73–45th
1996 Shepherd7–35–23rd
1997 Shepherd9–16–1T–1st
1998 Shepherd10–27–01stL NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 13
1999 Shepherd9–26–01stL NCAA Division II First Round 15
2000 Shepherd7–35–23rd
2001 Shepherd8–25–2T–2nd
2002 Shepherd7–35–2T–2nd
2003 Shepherd4–64–3T–2nd
2004 Shepherd7–37–01st
2005 Shepherd 11–18–01stL NCAA Division II Second Round 20
2006 Shepherd 11–17–01stL NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 8
2007 Shepherd 10–27–11stL NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 13
2008 Shepherd5–53–5T–6th
2009 Shepherd6–45–34th
2010 Shepherd 12–27–11stL NCAA Division II Semifinal 7
2011 Shepherd9–26–2T–2nd22
2012 Shepherd 8–37–11stL NCAA Division II First Round 25
Shepherd Rams (Mountain East Conference (Div II)(2013–2018)
2013 Shepherd 11–19–01stL NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 9
2014 Shepherd8–28–22nd
2015 Shepherd 13–110–01stL NCAA Division II Championship 2
2016 Shepherd 13–110–01stL NCAA Division II Semifinal 3
2017 Shepherd 10–110–01stL NCAA Division II First Round 14
2018 Shepherd7-37-33rd
Shepherd Rams (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (Div II)(2019–present)
2019 Shepherd 10-36-12nd (East)L NCAA Division II Second Round 22
2020 Shepherd1-00-0
2021 Shepherd 13-26-12nd (East)L NCAA Division II Semifinals 5
2022 Shepherd 13-27-01st (East)L NCAA Division II Semifinals 6
2023 Shepherd9-35-2T–2nd (East)L NCAA Division II First Round
2024 Shepherd6-53-45th (East)
2025 Shepherd0-00-0
Total:275–117–2
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #AFCA Division II.

Postseason results

YearFirst RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsChampionship
1998 @ IUP, W 9–6@ Slippery Rock, L 20–31
1999 @ Millersville, L 14–21
2005 First round byevs. LIU Post, L 21–28
2006 First round byevs. Merrimack, W 31–7vs. Bloomsburg, L 21–24
2007 First round byevs. IUP, W 41–34@ California, L 38–58
2010 vs. Shaw, W 40–6@ Kutztown, W 41–34@ Mercyhurst, W 48–14@ Delta State, L 17–29
2012 @ IUP, L 17–27
2013 First round byevs. Winston-Salem State, W 7–0vs. West Chester, L 7–28
2015 First round byevs. 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 13–23
2017 vs. Findlay, L 17–29
2019 @ IUP, W 31–27@ Slippery Rock, L 30–51
2021 vs. Findlay, W 38–31vs. Notre Dame (OH), W 38–34@ Kutztown W 30–28@ Ferris State, L 7–55
2022 vs. New Haven, W 16–13vs. Slippery Rock, W 37–27@ IUP, W 48–13@ Colorado School of Mines, L 13–44
2023@ Lenoir-Rhyne, L 17–63

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

[19]

Rams in the NFL

Drafted players

Shepherd has had three football players [20] drafted by the NFL:

Currently active players

References

  1. "Shepherd University to Join PSAC in 2019-20".
  2. "2024FBCoSIDAInfo (PDF) - Shepherd University Athletics" (PDF). shepherdrams.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  3. "Frostburg State and Shepherd Announce Six-Year Football Agreement".
  4. "Quick Facts – Shepherd University" . Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  5. "RAMSTADIUM (PDF)" (PDF). Shepherd University Athletics. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  6. "Monte Cater – Hall of Fame". Shepherd University Athletics. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  7. "NAIA Football Championship History" (PDF). NAIA. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  8. "West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame – Monte Cater". MetroNews. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  9. "Shepherd Football Captures Super Region One Title with 28-16 win over Slippery Rock". December 5, 2015.
  10. "Shepherd to Join Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference".
  11. "Cater Announces Retirement; McCook Named Head Coach". Shepherd University Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  12. "Tyson Bagent wins 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy, becomes first Shepherd Ram to win award". December 17, 2021.
  13. "18 Dec 2021, B2 - The Post-Star at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  14. "2024FBRESULTS (PDF) - Shepherd University Athletics" (PDF). shepherdrams.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  15. "2024FBRESULTS (PDF) - Shepherd University Athletics" (PDF). shepherdrams.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  16. "2024FBRESULTS (PDF) - Shepherd University Athletics" (PDF). shepherdrams.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  17. "Bagent Named Harlon Hill Trophy Winner".
  18. "2024FBRESULTS (PDF) - Shepherd University Athletics" (PDF). shepherdrams.com. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
  19. "2024FBRESULTS (PDF)" (PDF). Shepherd University Athletics. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  20. "Shepherd Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  21. "Wayne Wilson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. September 4, 1957. Retrieved December 14, 2015.