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William Peace University

Claude Shields Headshot

Claude Shields

  • Title
    Head Men's Basketball Coach // Director of Athletics
  • Email
    cbshields@peace.edu
  • Phone
    919.508.2331
Coach Claude Shields was hired in 2011 as the first Head Men's Basketball Coach in school history and is entering his 10th season with the Pacers. Shields also serves as the Associate Director of Athletics.

William Peace University Coaching Highlights
Year Overall Record Conference Record Conference Finish Highlights
2021-22 6-18 3-11 7th in the East
2021   2-10 1-9 6th in the East
2019-20 14-12 12-5 2nd in the East
  • Best conference record in program history
  • First time in program history that the team hosted the conference tournament
  • One First Team All-Conference Selection
  • One Third Team All-Conference Selection
2018-19 13-13 9-8 3rd in the East
  • One Third Team All-Conference Selection
2017-18 6-19 4-12 6th in the East
2016-17 15-11 8-6 5th
  • One Second Team All-Conference Selection
  • Best overall record in program history
2015-16 11-15 6-8 7th
  • USA South Rookie of the Year Honoree
  • One Second Team All-Conference Selection
2014-15 13-13 9-5 2nd
  • First appearance in the USA South Conference Tournament
  • Coach Shields named USA South Men's Basketball Coach of the Year
  • USA South single-season record for three-pointers made (251)
  • One Second Team All-Conference Selection
  • One Capitol One Academic All-District Selection
2013-14 9-16 3-11 10th
2012-13 5-12 N/A N/A
  • First year as a program
Previous Coaching Experience
  • Before coming to the Pacers, Shields began his coaching career at Guiford College as an assistant under veteran head coach Tom Palombo. He was put at the helm of the Quaker's JV squad where he coached them to a .500 record and also helped recruit 17 student-athletes for the incoming class of 2011 which included the 2011-12 ODAC Rookie of the Year and two-time All-ODAC Performer. 
  • Shields has also worked basketball camps at UNC, Elon, Davidson, Wake Forest, and Guilford Colelge including the Hoop Mountain Showcase Events at Guilford in 2011 and 2012. In addition, he established his own Elite Camp at WPU in 2014.
Education
  • Shields is a 2010 graduate of the University of North Carolina where he played junior varsity basketball for the Tar Heels under assistant coach, C.B. McGrath, and current Stanford head coach, Jerod Haase. Haase led the Blazer to a Conference USA championship in 2014-15 before going on to upset the third-seeded Cyclones of Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Additional Information
  • Shields has previous ties to William Peace University through his mother, Virginia Lancaster '77, who played on the school's tennis team.