Austin Bob Shipley, a former athletics director and head football coach at the high school level in the state of Texas, has been named to the newly created position of Football Analyst in the player personnel department at The University of Texas, head coach Mack Brown announced Monday.
I m very excited about joining the Texas football program and appreciate Coach Brown giving me this opportunity, Shipley said. I believe in him. He's the kind of coach a dad dreams of his son being able to grow up and play for, and my sons have had an incredible experience at Texas. I think I bring a unique prospective to the staff. Having been a college coach, a longtime high school coach and having been around the program for almost 10years with my sons, this is a position that just seemed right for me. Assisting with recruiting is something that I have experience in and love to do.
In his role, Shipley will assist with the coordination and implementation of the daily operational, administrative and logistical processes within the football program. He will co-coordinate the walk-on program, assist with film cut-ups and distribution of prospective student-athletes to coaching staff, support the planning and execution of the annual high school coaching clinic and the summer football camp, and assist with hosting prospective student-athletes and guests on official and unofficial visits to campus. In addition, he will assist 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 m looking forward to working with (Director of Player Personnel) Patrick Suddes, Shipley said. It didn't take long to see that he has a great plan, and I'm looking forward to learning from him. I m also excited about being involved with high school relations with Ken Rucker. He's done a great job in that area, and I want to help him any way I can.I'm excited to get to work.
Shipley spent the last four years as athletics director and head coach at Brownwood High School in 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 in Coppell, Texas, posting a 15-7 mark. That followed six seasons at his alma mater, Burnet High School in 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 in Rotan, Texas, leading the Yellowhammers to an 18-6 record in two seasons.
He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Graham High School in 1984, then spent three seasons at Temple High School before joining the staff at his alma mater, Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He was an assistant there on two different occasions, first from 1988-91 when he served as recruiting coordinator for all four years and also as offensive coordinator the last three, then he returned as offensive coordinator for one season in 1996. In between, he spent four years 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, including former UT All-America and NFL wide receiver Jordan Shipley as well as current UT junior wide receiver Jaxon Shipley, along with two daughters, Shelby andAddie Jane. He coached both of his sons in high school with Jordan attending Burnet, and Jaxon attending Brownwood.
