Coach Shepard hails from the great state of Illinois where he played college football and basketball at the University of Illinois until an untimely injury. Coach Shepard has taught in the public education system for 13 years.He started as a ninth grade economics teacher in Jackson, MS. During his four years in Jackson Ms, Coach Shepard served as an assistant coach to one of the most successful basketball coaches in the area, leading to four 5A state basketball championships.  After eight years of teaching, Coach Shepard served as a dean of students at Louisiana Key Academy school for dyslexic children. While working in HISD for three years, Coach Shepard produced two undefeated seasons as a middle school head football coach and two undefeated seasons as head girls basketball coach. Coach Shepard was also a part of last year's playoff staff at Yates High-school in third ward. Coach Shepard enjoys the curriculum, instruction and assessment side of education. Coach Shepard received his educator license and a M.S. in Curriculum and teaching from Thee Jackson State University in Jackson MS, Coach Shepard also received a Specialist degree in Psychology from Harvard University.