Shepas retires as Waynesburg’s football coach
Rick Shepas announced his retirement as Waynesburg University’s head football coach Monday. Shepas coached the Yellow Jackets for 12 seasons and is the winningest coach in school history.
Rick Shepas was hired as Waynesburg University head football coach in 2005. He had been the head coach at Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio.
Rick Shepas, the winningest football coach in Waynesburg University history, announced Monday he is retiring after 12 seasons.
Shepas will stay on to help Waynesburg in the transition process to its next head coach, meet with recruits and prepare for spring football activities.
“Something like this is always going to be a difficult decision. You don’t ever want to disappoint,” said the 51-year-old Shepas.
“The immediate goal is to help the transition to a new coach and do my very best with the recruiting class we’ve been working hard on. We’ve had a lot of guys interested in the best programs we have to offer.”
Waynesburg had a 2-8 record last season and was 69-55 under Shepas. The 69 wins are the most by any Waynesburg football coach.
The Yellow Jackets’ best period under Shepas was from 2012 through 2014, when Waynesburg had a 25-8 record and played in Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference bowl games each season. The 2012 team had a 10-1 record, tied for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title and defeated Carnegie Mellon in the ECAC Southwest Bowl.
Waynesburg played in five postseason games under Shepas, who underwent hip replacement surgery in December. He said that did play into his decision to retire. Shepas added he also has a left knee issue that will require surgery.
“I think it’s time in life for reflection,” Shepas said. “I needed to take inventory of some things. I received a great opportunity to come to Waynesburg. It was a passionate dream of mine to coach in Division III because of what it represents.”
Under Shepas, Waynesburg’s teams had some outstanding individual talent. Defensive end Mike Czerwien (2004-07) set the NCAA all-divisions record with 53½ quarterbacks sacks. Running back Robert Heller rushed for a school-record 2,176 yards in 2007, which is the most by any freshman in NCAA history. Tight end Adam Mozes (2009-12) was a Division III All-American and quarterback Carter Hill (2012-14) finished second in school history with 6,976 passing yards, 7,034 yards total offense and 72 career touchdown passes.
“I was fortunate to coach a lot of great players,” Shepas said. “I’m proud of the type of program we molded and the kids we developed. In the fall, several times we led the conference in grade-point-average as an athletic department and football played a big role in that.”
Shepas was hired in May of 2005 and succeeded Jeff Hand, who resigned to become head coach at PAC rival Westminster. Shepas had been head coach at Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio, where football is more than just a game. The Tigers play at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, which seats more than 16,000.
A two-way standout at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio, Shepas played his college football at Youngstown State under two legendary coaches, Jim Tressel and Bill Narduzzi, the latter the father of current Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi. A four-year letterman (1983-86) at Youngstown State as a wide receiver, Shepas was inducted into the YSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
He also played in the Arena Football League in 1988 with the Pittsburgh Gladiators.
Shepas started his head coaching career in 1993 at Poland Seminary in Ohio, where he had a 27-7 record in three seasons. He moved to Seneca Valley in 1996 and guided the Raiders to the WPIAL semifinals in 1997, which led to the move to Massillon in 1998. Shepas had a 53-28 record and two regional championships with the Tigers in seven seasons as head coach and athletic director. His 1999 season at Massillon was captured in the popular documentary “Go Tigers.”
Shepas said he won’t rule out coaching in the future, though rehabbing his hip and knee are immediate goals.
“This is a good opportunity for me to step back and re-evaluate,” Shepas said.
Shepas has two long-time coaches on his Waynesburg staff. Jason Falvo is the Yellow Jackets’ special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach. He has been at Waynesburg for 16 seasons. Defensive coordinator Scott Venick, a former head coach at Ringgold, has been at Waynesburg for 11 years.