ABILENE, TX --- Dan Sheppard has been selected as the new head softball coach at Hardin-Simmons University, replacing Rita Jordan who resigned last month.

“I am excited to be back coaching at the university level,” said Sheppard. “I was able to observe from both the inside when I helped Coach Jordan and also from the outside when I was at Mary Hardin-Baylor as to what a great university Hardin-Simmons is. I get to follow Coach Jordan and the great foundation she laid in starting this program and I look forward to continuing in her footsteps.

Sheppard was previously a volunteer assistant with the Hardin-Simmons program and also the head coach at Mary Hardin-Baylor for two seasons. He also spent time as a coach at Midland Christian High School, where he won one state title and played in three more state championship games.

“It is a credit to Coach Jordan and our softball team that we had so many qualified individuals apply for this position,” said HSU Director of Athletics John Neese.

“When Coach Sheppard worked with our program from 2004-2006, he played a significant role in the success that we enjoyed,” said Neese. “At that time we were able to see many of his strengths as a coach and as a person. Combined with his previous head coaching experience in our conference, he has a clear idea on what we need to do to build on the previous accomplishments of our softball program.”

Sheppard has also been active in the summer league circuit and coached a team to a state championship at that level. In his two seasons at UMHB, his team played for the ASC Championship in 2001 and in 2002 the Cru won the ASC West Division and he was named the league’s coach of the year.

He then served as a volunteer for the Hardin-Simmons program in the early stages of the program and helped establish the new program. He was with the program for two West Division titles and for the first of two ASC titles the program won under Jordan.

Sheppard has also owned his own business, DMS and Company, which is a property tax business. He earned two degrees from Abilene Christian. He earned his bachelor’s in education in 1974 and earned a master’s in education in 1978.

-Courtesy Hardin-Simmons University Sports Information Department