On April 2nd, 2018, Truett McConnell University announced the naming of Jenni Shepard as Athletic Director.
Shepard has served as the Interim Athletic Director since the end of October 2017. She became the Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations in 2010 and the Associate Athletic Director in 2016 as well as serving on numerous internal and Appalachian Athletic Conference committees.
Jenni Shepard is in her 13th season as the Truett McConnell University head softball coach, fresh off a third consecutive Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament appearance, being named the 2016 Softball AAC Co-Coach of the Year, and the most overall wins in school history in 2016. In 2017, Shepard was named AAC Coach of Character as well. The 2016 squad picked up record setting 12-8 conference record finishing in 4th place during the regular season and 29-22 overall record. The 2015 team finished 23-25 overall, 10-10 in AAC Conference Play, 4-2 in post-season play, and became the first team for all sports in NAIA history at Truett McConnell University to make it to an Conference Championship Game, finishing 2nd. Under Shepard’s tutilage, the Bears have garnered six first team all-conference, six second team all-conference, five freshman team, three defensive team, and three conference tournament team recipients. In the four years the Bears have been members of the AAC, twenty-one players were awarded AAC All-Academic Team recognition, while ten were named NAIA Scholar Athletes. During her tenure Shepard has seen the program grow from an inaugural team, which competed as a junior college, to a NAIA program which competes as a member of the AAC. Shepherd makes it a priority to be a Godly example to her players and coaches in a way that fosters spiritual growth among each individual player.
The 2015 year was also a memorable one for Shepard as she was inducted into the athletic hall of fame at her alma matar Piedmont College, the "P Club" Hall of Fame.
A native of Toccoa, Ga., Shepard graduated Cum Laude from Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga., with a Bachelors of Arts degree in 2003. She continued her education and received her Master's in Early Childhood Education in 2005. A standout collegiate athlete, Shepherd was a first team All-Conference outfielder, first team All-Conference catcher, and a two year letter winner in Cross County. Some of her athletic and academic accolades include: GSAC Player of the Week, NCCAA Player of the Week in the Nation, NCCAA Academic All-American, and twice a member of the 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 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.
After graduating in 2003, Shepard acted as an assistant to Piedmont’s current head softball coach, Terry Martin. During this stint she helped coach Piedmont to its 1st ever GSAC Championship in 2005, and twice to the NCCAA national tournament where they finished 8th and 4th respectively. She was also a member of the 2005 GSAC coaching staff of the year.
Shepard married her husband Josh in 2009 and they became parents to twins Jack and Zoe on February 7, 2012.
In 2010 Shepard received the NAIA Coach of Character Award for the Association of Independent Institutions conference. In 2012 her team received the SSAC East Division team sportsmanship award. Throughout the years Coach Shepard has fostered one SSAC all-division team member, 15 NFCA all-academic recipients, 3 NCCAA players of the week, and 5 NCCAA all-region team members.
