Montana State head soccer coach Brent Vigen introduced Friday that Bryan Shepherd, a former defensive again and assistant coach at North Dakota State, has joined the Bobcat teaching employees.
Shepherd turns into MSU’s assistant defensive backs coach — succeeding Kyle Risinger, who just lately resigned — after working as a top quality management coach at Syracuse since 2018. He was a part of the Orange program in his first season when the squad completed 10-3 and beat West Virginia within the Tenting World Bowl.
“We’re thrilled to have added Bryan to our employees as our new assistant defensive backs coach,” Vigen mentioned. “I knew Bryan as a participant, who was an integral a part of championship groups, and he has gained useful expertise as a coach each at NDSU and Syracuse. Whereas at each locations he labored in a defensive system similar to ours right here at Montana State. He’s very educated, will probably be an awesome mentor to our cornerbacks and can convey a substantial amount of power each on the sphere and in recruiting.”
Shepherd performed nook on NDSU nationwide championship groups from 2011 to 2013, graduated in 2015, then labored as a defensive assistant there in 2016 and as cornerbacks coach in 2017. In his first season on the Bison employees, Shepherd labored with defensive backs whereas coordinating the offensive and particular groups scout squads. In 2017, his NDSU corners helped the group lead the FCS in complete protection (327.4 yards per recreation) whereas ending third in interceptions (22) on its strategy to a nationwide title.
“I’m blessed and grateful to be at a historic program like Montana State,” Shepherd mentioned. “I recognize Coach Vigen to change into a part of the Bobcat household. I performed at NDSU when he was offensive coordinator, so I’ve plenty of respect for Coach Vigen.”
The product of Olathe (Kansas) North in suburban Kansas Metropolis started his faculty profession at Nebraska-Omaha, redshirting in 2009 and beginning all 11 video games for the Division II energy in 2010. Shepherd returned an interception a school-record 89 yards for a landing and recovered a fumble for a landing that season, however when UNO discontinued the Mavericks program he transferred to NDSU.
He contributed on particular groups and within the secondary as a Bison sophomore earlier than getting back from a critical damage for the college’s playoff run in 2012. As a senior, he began six video games because the nickelback and was NDSU’s second-leading particular groups tackler. His interception towards New Hampshire arrange a landing within the playoffs. His look within the nationwide title recreation proved to be the ultimate recreation for head coach Craig Bohl and Vigen, then North Dakota State’s offensive coordinator.
Shepherd performed skilled soccer earlier than getting into the teaching career. He was with Washington’s NFL group within the 2014 preseason as an undrafted free agent, and hung out with Montreal of the Canadian Soccer League in 2015.