University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Shepherd was a basketball-football standout for the Bronchos in the late 1930s and was later a long-time coach at the university.

Steve was UCO’s starting center in football in 1936-’37-’38, helping the Bronchos to a combined 21-5-3 record and three straight Oklahoma Collegiate Conference crowns.  He was also the starting point guard on the basketball team for two years in 1937-38 and ’38-39, guiding Central to a 33-11 record and back-to-back trips to the NAIA National Championships.

Shepherd was an All-Conference basketball pick in 1939 and was named UCO’s Senor Athlete of the Year for 1938-39.

After spending a decade coaching the high school ranks, Shepherd returned to UCO in 1950 to take over as head track coach and serve as an assistant football coach.  He assisted the football program to 13 years, coaching seven All-Americans on the line and helping the Bronchos to the 1962 NAIA national championship.

Steve directed the track program until 1970, coaching dozens of conference champions and national qualifiers in addition to two All-Americans in Van Smith and Alan England.