Jenni Shepard has served as the Truett McConnell University Vice President for Student Life and Athletics since 2022. She reached this title after serving in numerous roles for TMU over the last 22 years, including head softball coach (2005-2022), Interim Athletic Director (2017), Athletic Director (2018-2020) and Vice President for Athletics (2021). In addition to her work in athletics and student life, Shepard is also an Associate Professor of Education, teaching senior-level early childhood education majors.
Under her leadership, Truett McConnell Athletics has seen a myriad of improvements and expansions, including the following:
Facility Improvements:
- $1,200,000 tennis facility construction
- $750,000 lighting project for outdoor sport facilitiesÂ
- $350,000 Beach VB – 4 CourtÂ
- Created a 6.5-mile Mountain Bike XC trail, Dual Slalom Course, Downhill Course, and Short Track
- Established a dedicated Competitive Gaming Facility
- Renovated the Harris Athletic Complex to cater the facility to volleyball and wrestling events
- Established and helped fund the TMU Softball Complex
- Renovated the women’s volleyball shower and locker room
- Upgraded the baseball and softball locker roomsÂ
- Multiple TMU Baseball Complex upgrades including new 43’ foul poles, batter’s eye, extended dugout coverings and safety netting, construction of press box, video board and state of the art sound system
- Installed player coverings at the TMU Soccer/Lacrosse Complex
- Upgraded broadcasting operations for outdoor venues
Program Additions:
- Competitive Gaming
- Cycling
- Disc Golf
- Men’s/Women’s Tennis
- Men’s Volleyball
- Pickleball
- Shooting Sports
- Women’s Beach Volleyball
Shepard joined Truett McConnell in 2005 when she started the TMU Fastpitch Softball Program and accepted the role of head softball coach. Her tenure covered 17 seasons, totaling 378 career wins, two AAC Regular Season Championships, one AAC Tournament Championship, eight AAC Tournament appearances, three NAIA National Tournament Appearances and four consecutive seasons of national rank appearances in the NAIA Top 25, with a peak of #9. She also guided one player to NAIA All-American honors.
Shepard was inducted into the Piedmont College Hall of Fame in 2015 for her time as a collegiate softball player. A native of Toccoa, Ga., Shepard graduated Cum Laude from Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga., with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2003. She continued her education and received her Master's in Early Childhood Education in 2005. A standout collegiate athlete, Shepard was a four-year contributor to Coach Terry Martin’s softball program at Piedmont, was a first team All-Conference outfielder, first team All-Conference catcher, and a two-year letter winner in cross country. Some of her athletic and academic accolades include: GSAC Player of the Week, NCCAA National Player of the Week, NCCAA Academic All-American, and two-time NCCAA South Region Team. She was a member of the Alpha Lamda Delta honor society, a three-time member of the GSAC All-Academic Team, a two-year team captain, a two-time member of NFCA All-Academic Team, and a member of Chi Alpha Sigma Georgia Gamma Chapter, a national college athlete honor society.
Shepard has been married to her husband Josh since 2009 and is the mother to twins Jack and Zoe (14).
