The University of West Florida has named Pete Shinnick the first football head coach in the program’s history. Shinnick will be available for media questions and introductions in a press conference at the Argonaut Athletic Club on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. Football will be the 15th varsity sport at UWF, and the team will begin playing in the fall of 2016.
The press conference will be closed to the general public, but fans can watch a live video stream of the event at www.GoArgos.com.
Shinnick most recently coached at UNC Pembroke, where he was hired in 2005 to bring football back to the university after an absence of more than 50 years. He built the Braves into a nationally-ranked NCAA Division II team and compiled a record of 50-24 in seven seasons. Before bringing football back to UNC Pembroke, Shinnick made his mark as head coach of former NAIA powerhouse Azusa Pacific. In seven years with the Cougars, his teams posted a mark of 53-22 and earned two national semifinalist finishes.
“Pete checked off all the boxes for qualities we were looking for in a candidate,†said UWF athletic director Dave Scott. “I don’t think we could have found a better person and coach to fill this position. We’re fortunate to have found a coach that has done this all before. It’s one thing to be a great coach, but it’s another to have started a program from scratch. It’s truly a unique skill.â€
Shinnick was announced as UNCP’s head coach in December 2005, and the team began playing in 2007. After a 4-7 record the first season, the Braves averaged nearly eight wins over their next six years. Shinnick led the team to nine wins each in 2008 and 2009, and the 2009 team became the youngest program (three years) to advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs.
In his seven years coaching at UNCP, Shinnick finished with a record of 50-24 (.676 winning percentage). The second year team in 2008 finished as the NCAA Division II statistical national champion in scoring defense (11.2 points allowed per game), and they ranked sixth in the same category the following year (15.1). He led the Braves back to their second NCAA tournament in 2013, as the team earned a first round bye into the round of 16. The 2013 team was also ranked as high as No. 8 in the American Football Coaches Association national poll.
Before building the program at UNC Pembroke, Shinnick excelled in his seven years as head coach at Azusa Pacific in Azusa, Calif. He took over in 1999 and saw immediate success, as the Cougars posted a record of 9-3 and advanced to the NAIA semifinals. Shinnick posted a record of 53-22 (.707 winning percentage) and the team made five total appearances in the NAIA playoffs, including a trip back to the semifinals in 2004.
Before getting his first head coaching job at Azusa Pacific, Shinnick received a varied experience as an assistant coach at multiple levels. His first assistant coach position was at Richmond in 1988, and he coached at six more universities (Arkansas, Clemson, Oregon State, Northern Michigan, St. Cloud State, Humboldt State) before landing at Azusa Pacific in 1999.
Shinnick graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from Colorado in 1988, and he was a two-year letterwinner as an offensive lineman for the Buffaloes in 1985 and 1986. He appeared in 21 games for Colorado, including the 1985 Freedom Bowl and the 1986 Bluebonnet Bowl. He later earned his master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Clemson in 1992.
Pete grew up in a football family, as his father Don Shinnick was a linebacker for the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League for 13 seasons. Don Shinnick was a driving force behind the Colts’ NFL championships in 1958 and 1959. He led the league in interceptions with seven in 1959, and he still holds the career record for interceptions by a linebacker with 37. After his playing career, he saw time as an assistant coach in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots.
Pete and his wife, Traci, are the proud parents of four children: Anna, Rachel, Elijah and Benjamin.
The hiring of Pete Shinnick as head coach of the first UWF football team is a big moment for UWF President Judy Bense.
“Adding football at UWF is long overdue,†said Bense. “It will bring new excitement and vibrancy to our campus and community. Shinnick is the right man for the job. He is a demonstrated leader and has built a winning team from scratch. I am pleased he will join us at UWF and carry forward our vision.â€
The press conference to introduce Coach Shinnick will be streamed with live video at www.GoArgos.com. A recap of the press conference will be posted to www.GoArgos.com, as well as to www.Facebook.com/GoArgos and www.Twitter.com/GoArgos.
The University of West Florida Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has won seven national championships, and UWF leads all schools in Gulf South Conference history with 74 league championships and 16 all-sports trophies. Football will be the 15th varsity sport at the University. President Bense confirmed on Sept. 4 that the team will begin playing in 2016, and the University reached an agreement in concept for the team to play its home games at Maritime Park Stadium in downtown Pensacola starting that fall.
For more information on football at the University of West Florida, visit www.GoArgos.com/Football. For information on all UWF athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.
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Shinnick’s Coaching Resume
UNC Pembroke (Head Coach)
Year: W-L
2007: 4-7
2008: 9-1
2009: 9-2
2010: 5-5
2011: 8-3
2012: 6-4
2013: 9-2
Total: 50-24 (7 years)
Azusa Pacific (Head Coach)
Year: W-L
1999: 9-3
2000: 6-4
2001: 4-5
2002: 9-1
2003: 8-2
2004: 11-3
2005: 6-4
Total: 53-22 (7 years)
Total as Head Coach: 103-46 (14 years)
Assistant Coach Positions
1988: Richmond (Offensive Line)
1989: Arkansas (Defensive Line)
1990-91: Clemson (Tight Ends)
1992-93: Oregon State (Recruiting Coordinator)
1994: Northern Michigan (Offensive Line)
1995-97: St. Cloud State (Offensive Coordinator)
1998: Humboldt State (Offensive Line)