William Peace University

Claude Shields enters his 15th season as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at William Peace University in 2026-27 after being hired in 2011 as the first head coach in program history.

Since the program’s inaugural season in 2012-13, Shields has guided the Pacers through the program’s rise within the USA South Conference while establishing multiple program records and postseason milestones. Under his leadership, William Peace has produced conference award winners, all-conference selections, academic honors, and several of the top seasons in program history.

During the 2022-23 season, Shields led the Pacers to an 18-9 overall record and an 11-3 conference mark, both program records at the time, while advancing to the program’s first USA South Conference Championship appearance. William Peace also earned NABC Team of Excellence honors during the season.

The Pacers followed with a second consecutive winning season in 2023-24, finishing 14-13 overall and 8-6 in conference play while advancing to the USA South Conference Semifinals for the second straight year. The season was highlighted by a USA South Rookie of the Year selection, First Team and Second Team All-Conference honorees, four CSC Academic All-District selections, eight NABC Honors Court honorees, and another NABC Team of Excellence recognition.

In 2014-15, just the program’s second season competing in the USA South Conference, Shields guided the Pacers to a second-place finish in the league standings and the first conference tournament appearance in program history. Following the season, Shields became the first coach in school history to earn USA South Coach of the Year honors.

Throughout his tenure, Shields has coached multiple All-Conference performers while helping establish William Peace as a competitive program within the conference. The Pacers have also consistently earned recognition for academic success, including CSC Academic All-District honors, NABC Honors Court selections, and multiple NABC Team of Excellence awards.

Prior to arriving at William Peace, Shields graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2010, where he played junior varsity basketball for the Tar Heels under assistant coach C.B. McGrath and current Stanford head coach Jerod Haase.

Shields also has longstanding ties to William Peace University through his mother, Virginia “Ginger” Lancaster ’77, who competed on the school’s tennis team and was inducted into the William Peace University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.