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William Peace University

Claude Shields - headshot

Claude Shields

Claude Shields was hired in 2011 as the first Head Men's Basketball Coach in school history and is entering his 14th season with the Pacers. Shields also serves as the Director of Athletics. 

William Peace University Coaching Highlights
Year Overall Record Conference Record Conference Finish Highlights
2024-25 5-20     3-11 7th
  • One Second Team All-Conference Selection 
  • One CSC Academic All-District Selection
2023-24 14-13 8-6 4th
  • Second straight winning season
  • One First Team All-Conference Selection
  • One Second Team All-Conference Selection 
  • USA South Rookie of the Year Selection
  • Reached USA South Conference Semifinals For Second Straight Year
  • Four CSC Academic All-District Selections
  • Eight NABC Honors Court Selections
  • NABC Team of Excellence 
2022-23 18-9 11-3 2nd 
  • Program record for wins 
  • Program record for conference winning percentage 
  • Two First Team All-Conference Selections 
  • One Second Team All-Conference Selection 
  • First USA South Conference Championship Appearance 
  • NABC Team of Excellence 
2021-22     6-18 3-11 7th in the East
2021   2-10 1-9 6th in the East
  • NABC Team of Excellence 
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

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. 
Additional Information
  • Shields has previous ties to William Peace University through his mother, Virginia (Ginger) Lancaster '77, who played on the school's tennis team. Ginger was inducted into the WPU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.