Athletic Director Jon Shephard Interview
By Abby Mohrbutter
You know the jerseys and the athletes, but do you know who keeps the WolfPack running behind the scenes? Get to know our one and only Athletic Coordinator, Jon Shephard. Shephard has been the Athletics Coordinator for 28 years, and the role has evolved as the department has grown. In the early years, the smaller department meant taking on many tasks each day. Shephard recalled, “I would show up at 8:00, mop and sweep the floor, set up chairs and score tables, and prepare the facility for practices and games. You run the games and clean up afterwards, it was a 16-hour day.”
Now, his role includes arranging team travel and booking facilities for practices and games. He also manages scholarships and financial aid, reviews rosters and eligibility, checks grades, assists in the office, and supports other department staff. Talking to him, it’s clear how proud he is of the WolfPack family.
When asked about his favourite part of working with student-athletes, he replied, “I can’t think of a single student-athlete I didn’t enjoy meeting and getting to know. Running sporting events, how can you complain? It’s like a dream job.” I asked him what makes him most proud of the department. He described the environment like a family, and how proud everyone is of their work with the athletes. Shephard also reflected on the program’s success beyond sports, with the list of Academic All-Canadians growing each year. Academic All-Canadians are student-athletes with an 80% average or higher, showing the program’s success beyond athletics.
Reflecting on his position, Shephard shared that his role goes beyond organizing schedules and managing facilities. “I think my role is similar to other support staff, our role is to make sure that the student-athlete experience is as best as it can be. I take pride in doing what I do and make sure that my jurisdiction or what I’m in charge of here I do it well,” he said. It’s clear that Jon Shephard is proud not only of the department but also of the athletes and how they represent the university, reflecting positively on the program.