Bo Shepard
Encyclopedia
George E. "Bo" Shepard was best known for being the head coach
of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team
from 1931 through 1935.
in Wilmington, North Carolina
.
Bo's family had various ties to athletics at North Carolina. His brother, Norman Shepard
, became the head coach for North Carolina before Bo, and two of his other brothers, Caryle Shepard and Alex Shepard, played basketball for North Carolina. Bo and Norman Shepard are the only pair of sibling to have ever coached the North Carolina men's basketball team.
athletic faculty as an assistant graduate manager of athletics.
In 1932, James Ashmore
departed as the head coach of the North Carolina men's basketball team, and Bo Shepard took over as the new head coach.
In his first regular season, Shepard's North Carolina team was fairly successful winning 13 of 17 games and 6 out of 9 games in conference. In the 1933 Southern Conference Tournament, Shepard's North Carolina team managed to make it past Tennessee
in the first round and beat the Kentucky
in the second round, which was coached by Adolph Rupp
in his second season. North Carolina beat Auburn
to go to the finals of the Southern Conference championship where they lost a close game 24–26 to Georgia
.
At the end of the 1932–33 season, 13 schools left the Southern Conference to create the Southeastern Conference
, which greatly changed the playing schedule and the usual opponents for North Carolina.
Going into the 1933–34 season, Shepard managed to recruit Ivan "Jack" Glace, who would go on to be the first of several prize recruits for Shepard. Glace was originally not much of a basketball player. "[Glace] was so awkward that he could hardly walk without tripping over his feet, but he wanted to play so badly he didn't know what to do," said Shepard. Shepard worked with Glace throughout his college years and eventually he would become all-conference in his senior year, which Shepard considered one of his major accomplishment.
During the 1933–34 season, the Tar Heels went 11–4 in the regular season. In the 1934 Southern Conference Tournament, the Tar Heels won their first game against Virginia Tech
, but lost in double overtime to South Carolina
in the next round.
The 1934–35 season saw an increase in the North Carolina Tar Heels as they managed to go 17–3 and tied for second with the best regular season record. This squad was helped out by a pair of siblings, Dave and Jim McCrachren that both played on the team. In the 1935 Southern Conference Tournament, the Tar Heels managed to beat Virginia
in the first round but lost the Duke
in the second round.
Shepard's last season, 1935–36, would be his best. The Tar Heels only lost two games during the regular season and won the regular season championship for the first time in nine years. In the 1936 Southern Conference Championship, the Tar Heels beat South Carolina
, NC State
, and Washington and Lee
to win its fifth Southern Conference Championship.
Shepard has stated that in general his teams focused disproportionally on defense. Shepard stated that his teams "were never blown out badly. If you scored in the high 30s, you had a real good night in those days. Our goal was to keep the other team from scoring 20 points."
Though only winning the regular season and conference title once, Bo Shepard's was greatly successful as a basketball coach finishing 69–16 overall and with the third best overall winning percentage of any North Carolina men's basketball coach with a winning percentage of .812.
take over as head coach. Even though he was no longer the head coach of the Tar Heels, Shepard would continue to work for the University of North Carolina until 1970.
Bo Shepard went on to be president and vice president of the American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He also served as president of the College of Physical Education Association and Phi Delta Kappa
, a professional education fraternity. Bo Shepard also wrote the textbook Interscholastic Athletics.
Bo Shepard died on May 8, 1983.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
from 1931 through 1935.
Early life and family
Bo Shepard attended New Hanover High SchoolNew Hanover High School
New Hanover High School is a high school located in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. New Hanover High is now the oldest present high school built in Wilmington. Recently the original building underwent a complete renovation to update the 1919 school to the 21st century. New Hanover is also the...
in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
.
Bo's family had various ties to athletics at North Carolina. His brother, Norman Shepard
Norman Shepard
Norman W. Shepard was a head coach of various college athletics at several American colleges and universities. He is best known for being the only Division I college basketball coach to go undefeated in his first season coaching...
, became the head coach for North Carolina before Bo, and two of his other brothers, Caryle Shepard and Alex Shepard, played basketball for North Carolina. Bo and Norman Shepard are the only pair of sibling to have ever coached the North Carolina men's basketball team.
Coaching North Carolina Men's Basketball
In 1929, Bo Shepard joined the University of North Carolina'sUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
athletic faculty as an assistant graduate manager of athletics.
In 1932, James Ashmore
James N. Ashmore
James N. Ashmore was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at the State College of Washington, now Washington State University, , Millikin University , Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College, , and DePauw University ,...
departed as the head coach of the North Carolina men's basketball team, and Bo Shepard took over as the new head coach.
In his first regular season, Shepard's North Carolina team was fairly successful winning 13 of 17 games and 6 out of 9 games in conference. In the 1933 Southern Conference Tournament, Shepard's North Carolina team managed to make it past Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA men's basketball competition. The Volunteers currently compete in the Southeastern Conference...
in the first round and beat the Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
in the second round, which was coached by Adolph Rupp
Adolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
in his second season. North Carolina beat Auburn
Auburn Tigers men's basketball
The Auburn Tigers men's basketball program is the college basketball program that represents Auburn University, competing in the Southeastern Conference. The program began in 1905. Though they generally play under the shadow of the football program, the Tigers have had successes on the hardwood...
to go to the finals of the Southern Conference championship where they lost a close game 24–26 to Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs men's basketball
The Georgia Bulldogs basketball program is the men's college basketball team representing the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. Established in 1891, the team has competed in the Southeastern Conference since its inception in 1932...
.
At the end of the 1932–33 season, 13 schools left the Southern Conference to create the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, which greatly changed the playing schedule and the usual opponents for North Carolina.
Going into the 1933–34 season, Shepard managed to recruit Ivan "Jack" Glace, who would go on to be the first of several prize recruits for Shepard. Glace was originally not much of a basketball player. "[Glace] was so awkward that he could hardly walk without tripping over his feet, but he wanted to play so badly he didn't know what to do," said Shepard. Shepard worked with Glace throughout his college years and eventually he would become all-conference in his senior year, which Shepard considered one of his major accomplishment.
During the 1933–34 season, the Tar Heels went 11–4 in the regular season. In the 1934 Southern Conference Tournament, the Tar Heels won their first game against Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball
The Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Home games are played at Cassell Coliseum, located on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg.-History:...
, but lost in double overtime to South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The program attained national prominence under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205-65 record and three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances from 1967-1976...
in the next round.
The 1934–35 season saw an increase in the North Carolina Tar Heels as they managed to go 17–3 and tied for second with the best regular season record. This squad was helped out by a pair of siblings, Dave and Jim McCrachren that both played on the team. In the 1935 Southern Conference Tournament, the Tar Heels managed to beat Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball
The Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball program represents the University of Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA's Division I. The team is coached by Tony Bennett.-Statistics:-Retired numbers:-Retired jerseys:...
in the first round but lost the Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
in the second round.
Shepard's last season, 1935–36, would be his best. The Tar Heels only lost two games during the regular season and won the regular season championship for the first time in nine years. In the 1936 Southern Conference Championship, the Tar Heels beat South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball
The South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The program attained national prominence under hall of fame coach Frank McGuire, posting a 205-65 record and three NCAA Sweet 16 appearances from 1967-1976...
, NC State
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member....
, and Washington and Lee
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
to win its fifth Southern Conference Championship.
Shepard has stated that in general his teams focused disproportionally on defense. Shepard stated that his teams "were never blown out badly. If you scored in the high 30s, you had a real good night in those days. Our goal was to keep the other team from scoring 20 points."
Though only winning the regular season and conference title once, Bo Shepard's was greatly successful as a basketball coach finishing 69–16 overall and with the third best overall winning percentage of any North Carolina men's basketball coach with a winning percentage of .812.
After coaching
Even though he was successful at coaching at UNC, Bo Shepard had to step down as head coach due to health problems, and let Walter SkidmoreWalter Skidmore
-References:GeneralSpecific...
take over as head coach. Even though he was no longer the head coach of the Tar Heels, Shepard would continue to work for the University of North Carolina until 1970.
Bo Shepard went on to be president and vice president of the American Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He also served as president of the College of Physical Education Association and Phi Delta Kappa
Phi Delta Kappa
Phi Delta Kappa is an US professional organization for educators. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana. It was founded on 24 January 1906. Phi Delta Kappa also had a youth organization, called Xinos, girls, and Kudos, guys.-Membership:Currently, membership consists of students,...
, a professional education fraternity. Bo Shepard also wrote the textbook Interscholastic Athletics.
Bo Shepard died on May 8, 1983.