Shepherd Rams Explained

Shepherd Rams
University:Shepherd University
Association:NCAA
Conference:Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
Division:Division II
Director:Chauncey Winbush
Location:Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Teams:15
Stadium:Ram Stadium
Basketballarena:Butcher Center
Baseballfield:Fairfax Field
Soccerstadium:Shepherd Soccer Complex
Mascot:J.C.
Nickname:Rams
Color1:Blue
Color2:Gold
Hex1:002D56
Hex2:FFCC00
Pageurl:http://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.

Varsity teams

List of teams

Men's sports

Women's sports

Individual teams

Baseball

The head coach position is currently vacant. The former head coach, Matt McCarty, announced his resignation on July 1, 2024, to become the head baseball coach at Francis Marion University.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] [5]

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
200511–01st in WVIAC
200610–01st in WVIAC
20079–11st in WVIAC
20085–5T-6th in WVIAC
20096–44th in WVIAC
20109–11st in WVIAC
20119–2T-2nd in WVIAC
20128–21st in WVIAC
201310–01st in MEC
20148–22nd in MEC
201510–01st in MEC
201610–01st in MEC
201710–01st in MEC
20187–33rd in MEC
20199–22nd in PSAC East, T-2nd overall
2020cancelled due to COVID pandemic
202110–12nd in PSAC East, T-2nd overall
202210–11st 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
2005N/Avs. LIU Post, L 21–28 N/AN/A
2006N/Avs. Merrimack, W 31–7vs. Bloomsburg, L 21–24N/AN/A
2007N/Avs. IUP, W 41–34@ California, L 38–58N/AN/A
2010vs. 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
2013N/Avs. Winston-Salem State, W 7–0vs. West Chester, L 7–28N/AN/A
2015N/Avs. IUP, W 17–13vs. Slippery Rock, W 28–16vs. Grand Valley State, W 34–32vs. Northwest Missouri State, L 7–34
2016vs. Assumption, W 48–31@ LIU Post, W 40–21@ California, W 41–30vs. North Alabama, L 13–23N/A
2017vs. Findlay, L 17–29N/AN/AN/AN/A
2019@ IUP, W 31–27@ Slippery Rock, L 30–51N/AN/AN/A
2021vs. Findlay, W 38–31vs. Notre Dame (OH), W 38–34@ Kutztown W 30–28@ Ferris State, L 7–55N/A
2022vs. 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.[6]

Notable Shepherd Athletes

Baseball

Shepherd has had four baseball players[7] drafted by MLB:

Other notable Shepherd baseball players:

Football

Shepherd has had 3 football players[15] drafted by the NFL:

Other notable Shepherd football players:

Notes and References

  1. Shepherd University to Join PSAC in 2019–20 . Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference . June 7, 2018 . June 19, 2018.
  2. https://shepherdrams.com/news/2024/7/1/baseball-mccarty-resigns-to-accept-position-with-francis-marion.aspx
  3. Web site: Cater Announces Retirement; McCook Named Head Coach. Shepherd University Athletics. 18 July 2022.
  4. Web site: Tyson Bagent wins 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy, becomes first Shepherd Ram to win award. 17 December 2021.
  5. Web site: 18 Dec 2021, B2 - The Post-Star at Newspapers.com. Newspapers.com.
  6. Web site: Alex Hoekstra – Women's Volleyball Coach. Shepherd University Athletics.
  7. Web site: Shepherd College Baseball Players . Baseball-Reference.com . 2009-01-01 . 2015-12-14.
  8. Web site: Official Athletic Site of Shepherd University. https://web.archive.org/web/20140105025343/http://www.shepherdrams.com/page.cfm?story=32779&cat=exclusives . 2014-01-05 . 5 January 2014. 18 July 2022.
  9. Web site: Nathan Minnich Register Statistics & History . Baseball-Reference.com . 2015-12-14.
  10. Web site: Official Athletic Site of Shepherd University. https://web.archive.org/web/20131027164448/http://shepherdrams.com/page.cfm?story=33397&cat=exclusives . 2013-10-27 . 27 October 2013. 18 July 2022.
  11. Web site: Carr Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 13th Round. Shepherdrams.com.
  12. Web site: Lefty Willis Register Statistics & History . Baseball-Reference.com . 2015-12-14.
  13. Web site: Frank Funk Register Statistics & History . Baseball-Reference.com . 2015-12-14.
  14. Web site: Cecil Perkins Register Statistics & History . Baseball-Reference.com . 2015-12-14.
  15. Web site: Shepherd Drafted Players/Alumni . Pro-Football-Reference.com . 2015-12-14.
  16. Web site: Wayne Wilson NFL Football Statistics . Pro-Football-Reference.com . 1957-09-04 . 2015-12-14.
  17. Web site: Ferrum Panthers Mobile – Joel Gordon . 2016-02-01 . 2016-02-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160201023226/http://www.ferrumpanthers.com/mobile/staff.aspx?staff=147 . dead .
  18. Web site: Shepherd University – Faunteroy Selected for Bill Walsh NFL Minority Fellowship . Shepherdrams.com . 2014-12-06 . 2015-12-14.
  19. Web site: Thunder Acquire Division II Standout . Arenafootball.Com . 2014-12-04 . 2015-12-14 . 2015-12-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222082047/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/spec-rel/120414aac.html . dead .
  20. Web site: Steelers Agree To Terms With 9 Rookie Free agents . Steelers.com . 2014-05-10 . 2015-12-14.
  21. Web site: Eagles sign Billy Brown to UDFA deal, roster now at 90 . phi.247sports.com . 2017-05-12.
  22. Web site: Eagles sign 10 undrafted rookies . 11 May 2017 . philly.com . 2017-05-12.
  23. Web site: Former Shepherd Quarterback Jeff Ziemba signs with Baltimore Lightning . SU Picket . 2018-04-05.
  24. Web site: Jeff Ziemba, Arizona Rattlers, Offensive Player of the Week . philly.com . 2018-04-05 . 2018-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180406230121/http://goifl.com/aotw/Ziemba-_Jeff . dead .
  25. Web site: QB ZIEMBA NAMED 2018 IFL OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Arizona Rattlers . Azrattlers.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180715011313/https://www.azrattlers.com/qb-ziemba-named-2018-ifl-offensive-rookie-of-the-year/ . 2018-07-15.
  26. Web site: Team Roster | Chicago Bears Official Website. Chicagobears.com.
  27. Web site: Bears announce 53-man roster. Chicagobears.com.
  28. Web site: Players Arrive for Mninicamp. Chicagobears.com.
  29. Web site: 9/1: Redskins Make Roster Moves. Washingtonfootball.com. 2021-05-18. 2018-09-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20180902052302/https://www.redskins.com/news/9-1-redskins-make-roster-moves. dead.
  30. Web site: Former Ram DeJuan Neal Drafted by the New Jersey Generals. Shepherd University Athletics.
  31. Web site: 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. July 18, 2022.
  32. Web site: 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. July 18, 2022.
  33. Web site: Phelps Signs with the Arizona Cardinals. Shepherd University Athletics.
  34. Web site: Deonte Glover Drafted by Edmonton Football Team in CFL Draft. Shepherd University Athletics.
  35. Web site: Houston Gamblers Select Shepherd Product OG Joey Fisher in USFL Draft . 21 February 2023 .
  36. Web site: Steelers Sign PSAC Star Guard to Practice Squad . 30 August 2023 .
  37. Web site: Fisher Signed to the Practice Squad of the Cleveland Browns .
  38. https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2024/01/05/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-running-back-ronnie-brown/
  39. https://3downnation.com/2024/05/17/ottawa-redblacks-sign-two-including-former-blue-bombers-rb-ronnie-brown/
  40. Web site: Brian Walker: Cut by Baltimore . 13 June 2023 .