JaMarcus Shephard explained

JaMarcus Shephard
Current Title:Assistant head coach/Co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach
Current Team:Alabama
Current Conference:SEC
Birth Date:30 May 1983
Birth Place:Fort Wayne, IN
Player Sport1:Football
Player Years2:2001–2004
Player Team2:DePauw
Player Positions:Wide receiver
Coach Sport1:Football
Coach Years2:2005
Coach Team2:Northrop HS (IN) (WR)
Coach Years3:2006
Coach Team3:Broad Ripple HS (IN) (WR/DB)
Coach Years4:2011–2012
Coach Team4:Western Kentucky (DA)
Coach Years5:2013
Coach Team5:Western Kentucky (OQC)
Coach Years6:2014
Coach Team6:Western Kentucky (WR)
Coach Years7:2015
Coach Team7:Western Kentucky (ST/WR)
Coach Years8:2016
Coach Team8:Washington State (IWR)
Coach Years9:2017
Coach Team9:Purdue (PGC/WR)
Coach Years10:2018–2021
Coach Team10:Purdue (co-OC/WR)
Coach Team11:Washington (AHC/PGC/WR)
Coach Years11:2022–2023
Coach Team12:Alabama (AHC/co-OC/WR)
Coach Years12:2024–present
Coach Sport13:Track and field
Coach Years14:2007
Coach Team14:DePauw (volunteer asst.)

JaMarcus Shephard (born May 30, 1983) is an American football coach who is currently the Co-Offensive Coordinator and wide receivers coach at the University of Alabama.

Playing career

Shephard played wide receiver at DePauw University from 2001 to 2004. He finished his career third all-time in school history for career all-purpose yards and first in career kickoff yardage, a record that still stood as of 2019.[1]

Coaching career

Shephard did not initially pursue a career coaching college football, choosing to work at the NCAA's Education Services Division in order to maintain a steady flow of income.[2] He did coach high school football at his alma mater Northrop High School as a wide receivers coach in 2005, before joining the football staff at Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis as the team's wide receivers and defensive backs coach. He also did a stint at his other alma mater DePauw as a volunteer assistant on the university's track and field team.

Western Kentucky

After working at the National Center for Drug-Free Sport for four years, Shephard decided to accept a volunteer coaching position on Willie Taggart's staff at Western Kentucky. After Taggart was hired to be the head coach at South Florida, Shephard decided to stay at Western Kentucky under new head coach Bobby Petrino as an offensive quality control assistant working with the wide receivers on shifting the Hilltoppers from a heavy-run offense to a more balanced one. Shephard was promoted to wide receivers coach in 2014, this time on newly hired head coach Jeff Brohm's staff.[3] He was also promoted to special teams coach for the 2015 season.

Washington State

After Hilltoppers offensive coordinator Tyson Helton resigned to accept an assistant coaching position at USC on his brother Clay's staff, Shephard was offered a promotion to offensive coordinator. Shephard declined the promotion and instead accepted a position on Mike Leach's staff at Washington State as the inside wide receivers coach.[4]

Purdue

After Jeff Brohm was hired to be the next head coach at Purdue, Shephard joined his staff as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.[5] [6] He was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2018 following the resignation of Tony Levine.[7] [8]

Washington

On January 12, 2022, it was announced that Shepard would join the Washington Huskies as the associate head coach, passing game coordinator, and wide receivers coach.[9]

Alabama

On February 20, 2024, it was announced that Shephard would be following Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama to become the team's assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator (alongside Nick Sheridan), and wide receivers coach.[10]

Personal life

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Shephard attended Northrop High School before attending DePauw University.[11] Shephard and his wife Hallie have three children, Jaylan, Alana, and Maliyah.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Purdue assistant coach JaMarcus Shephard '05 recalls his DePauw decision day . DePauw University . 23 July 2020.
  2. Web site: Loh . Stefanie . How JaMarcus Shephard, WSU Cougars' new inside receivers coach, took an unorthodox career path . Seattle Times . 31 January 2016 . 23 July 2020.
  3. Web site: JaMarcus Shephard '05 promoted to wide receivers coach at Western Kentucky . DePauw University . 23 July 2020.
  4. Evans . Thayer . W. Kentucky's JaMarcus Shephard to be Wash. State inside receivers coach . Sports Illustrated . 18 January 2016 . 23 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Reports: Shephard leaving to reunite with former WKU boss at Purdue . Wazzu Watch . 7 December 2016 . 23 July 2020.
  6. Web site: O'Gara . Connor . Purdue announces titles for Jeff Brohm's coaching staff . Saturday Tradition . 2 February 2017 . 23 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Taylor . John . JaMarcus Shephard adds co-OC to Purdue coaching duties . NBC Sports. 26 February 2018 .
  8. Web site: JaMarcus Shephard Enjoying New Position with Boilermakers . WFFT.com . 23 July 2020.
  9. Web site: Report: UW Huskies to hire Purdue's JaMarcus Shephard as new wide receivers coach . Vorel, Mike. Settletimes.com. January 12, 2022.
  10. Web site: Nick Sheridan and JaMarcus Shephard Join Alabama Football Coaching Staff . 2024-02-21 . University of Alabama Athletics . en.
  11. Web site: Salle . Megan . Boilermakers on the Road brings back Northrop Grad, JaMarcus Shephard . Fort Wayne's NBC . 31 July 2019 . 23 July 2020.