The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Shipley named Director of High School Relations
03.02.2017 | Football
Shipley spent the previous three seasons as head coach and athletic director at Belton High School and has 17 years of high school head coaching experience.
AUSTIN – Head Football Coach Tom Herman announced the hiring of Bob Shipley as the program's Director of High School Relations on Thursday. Shipley, a veteran of 17 years as a high school head coach, will be in his second stint with the program after previously serving as a football analyst under Mack Brown during the 2013 season.
"We're so lucky to have Bob joining our staff," Herman said. "He's obviously well known here, but also is highly respected in the high school communities across this state and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our director of high school relations position. He's a guy I've known about and respected for a long time, and he will be an invaluable resource for our program. We're thrilled to have him on board."
"I was really excited when Coach Herman called, I had never met him before," Shipley said. "When I came up and visited with him, the passion he had was really obvious. The plan he set out to me and the staff he has put together are both incredible. It's funny, you work your whole life trying to force things to happen that you'd like to happen, and this is something that he just called me out of the blue, and it's my dream job. That rarely happens in life. It wasn't a decision I had to think about very long."
Following his time season at Texas, Shipley returned to the high school ranks where he was head coach and athletic director at Belton High School (Belton, Texas) for three years. During that time, Belton posted a 19-16 record and had postseason berths in all three seasons with two playoff victories.
"I started coaching over 32 years ago, and I've met a lot of incredible coaches," Shipley said. "I've developed great friendships and great relationships and respect for what they do. What they do for the youth of this state is immeasurable. I also love The University of Texas. I have a lot of passion for this program, this school and what it's done for my family. My two loves are University of Texas football and Texas high school football, so to be able to blend those together and be an ambassador for Coach Herman, this program and The University to the high school coaches throughout the state and the country, it's going to be a lot of fun for me."
As an analyst at UT in 2013, Shipley assisted with the coordination and implementation of the daily operational, administrative and logistical processes within the football program. He co-coordinated the walk-on program, assisted with film cut-ups and distribution of prospective student-athletes to coaching staff, supported the planning and execution of the annual high school coaching clinic and the summer football camp, and assisted with hosting prospective student-athletes and guests on official and unofficial visits to campus. He also assisted with the high school relations, updating recruiting lists, monitoring contacts and evaluations conducted by the coaching staff, and securing transcripts in collaboration with the student services department.
"I have an incredible amount of respect for Ken Rucker and Hardee McCrary, the two guys who have done this before, and I assisted Ken when I worked for Coach Brown, so I'm familiar with it, and I just feel like it's right in my wheelhouse," Shipley said. "I'm done with coaching, and if anybody ever asked me if I could do anything in the world, what I would want to do for a job, this is the job. That's why it's incredible."
Shipley spent the four years prior to his first stint at Texas as athletics director and head coach at Brownwood High School (Brownwood, Texas). During his time there, Shipley led the Lions to a 39-14 record including playoff appearances in each of his four seasons. Prior to Brownwood, he spent two seasons at Coppell High School (Coppell, Texas), posting a 15-7 mark. That followed six seasons at his alma mater, Burnet High School (Burnet, Texas), where the Bulldogs amassed a 54-19 record, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in the 3A state playoffs. He began his high school head-coaching career at Rotan High School (Rotan, Texas), leading the Yellowhammers to an 18-6 record in two seasons.
Prior to becoming head coach, Shipley made assistant stops at Graham High School and Temple High School, and twice at Abilene Christian University, while also serving as a principal in the Hawley, Temple and Abilene school districts.
Shipley earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Abilene Christian, where he played fullback from 1979-83 and was a team captain and all-conference selection as a senior. He was also an All-American in the shot put on the ACU track and field team, helping the team to a national championship in the 1983-84 season.
Shipley and his wife, Sharon, have four children – sons Jordan and Jaxon and daughters Shelby and Addie Jane. Jordan, a former UT All-American and NFL wide receiver, is the Longhorns' all-time leading receiver and was a 2009 Biletnikoff Award finalist. Jaxon, also a former UT and NFL wide receiver, ranks third in school history for career receptions. He coached both of his sons in high school with Jordan attending Burnet and Jaxon attending Brownwood.
