Dec 8

Dec 8 2022 Purdue Football Coaching Search - JaMarcus Shepherd

2022

Feature image from 247Sports

Who Is He?

Currently the Associate Head Coach at Washington. He’s also listed as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. A Washington team with another of the BS Search Firm’s favorite coaches and which just went 10-2 this season.

Shephard was previously at Purdue under Brohm from 2017-2021 and appears to be a favorite among players. Could Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame have smashed open future opportunities for the next group of young, talented black coaches? If so, Purdue leading the way isn’t something I’d mind one bit.

Shephard has an interesting path to where he is now. After a college career at DePauw, Shep actually did not immediately chase after being a college coach. Instead he got a regular job and eventually coached HS football in Indianapolis. He then was hired by Willie Taggart at WKU. Petrino kept Shephard on, and so did Jeff Brohm as the coaching carousel there spun.

Interestingly, Shep was then offered the OC role at WKU but instead chose to go be werido Mike Leach’s WR coach at Washington State in 2016. He was there just one year, though, as Jeff Brohm then brought him back to the state and onto his staff at Purdue. Last year, Shephard then made the jump to where he currently is at Washington.

What does all this mean? Well, for one thing, Jeff Brohm likes him and has worked with him multiple times. For another, he’s been at Purdue during the Brohm resurgence and, again if you listen to players, he was a big part of that comeback.

Why would he be successful at Purdue?

As noted, he was at Purdue for one of his longest professional stops, tied with his time at WKU. This wasn’t a stop-in for one year – JaMarcus was a big part of building Purdue back up from doormat to division champ. He’s got that youthful energy and creativity that motivates squads and which has become highly-valued in the coaching profession.

Why could he flop at Purdue?

He’s unproven as a head coach, but then again, every coach is until they aren’t.

Would he come to Purdue?

Traditional wisdom would say yes – he’s been there before, seems to have liked it, and it’s a shot at a head coaching gig in the most profitable conference.