Up for the Challenge

Laden with prodigious Class of 2023 talent, laser focus, poise under pressure, and competitive spirit, the Cougars won two Prep League (2021, 2023) and two VISAA (2021, 2022) championships against always-tough statewide competition and, for an encore, placed fourth in the PGA High School Golf National Invitational this past summer.

 

Four senior stalwarts on that squad — Jack Barnes (Hampden-Sydney), Tyler Brand (Dartmouth), Hudson Pace (Lafayette), and Tucker Smith (Hampden-Sydney) — have gone on to play college golf, and Jeff Dunnington stepped down as head coach and program leader when he became head of Collegiate’s Middle School.

 

The rebuilding (or, perhaps, reloading) job now falls to Shep Lewis, a respected and trusted Collegiate teacher/coach who today was named head boys golf coach and program leader overseeing both the boys and year-old girls team.

 

“Through the interview process,” said Athletic Director Andrew Stanley, “several things were very clear: Shep’s commitment to all phases of golf, his understanding of the importance of maintaining our boys team’s tradition of success, and his commitment to developing the girls program.

 

“Shep is an unbelievably competent, qualified, accomplished coach who is dedicated to the kids, the Athletic program, and the School. I’m excited to see what he’s going to do with the golf program in the future.”

 

Lewis will lead a team with just three returning players (senior Sam Hahn, a top-four scorer in 32 of 42 matches over the past three springs, junior Henry Palmore, and sophomore Quinn Pace), but varsity newcomers from a JV squad that went 13-0 will no doubt step enthusiastically and fearlessly into the breach and challenge for playing time in matches.

 

“What Jeff did leading the golf program with [his assistant] Mike Peters is an extremely tough act to follow,” Lewis said. “He leaves big shoes to fill, but I’m excited about the opportunity to build on what he accomplished. As I walk into a new position, the returning varsity players will be taking on new roles as leaders themselves. It’s exciting to be joining the program at the same time they take their next step.”

 

While this is Lewis’s first varsity head coaching position in his 19 years at Collegiate, it’s hardly his introduction to coaching at the varsity level.

                                                                                           

He’s served as an assistant with boys soccer under Charlie Blair and, more recently, Rob Ukrop and boys basketball under Alex Peavey. In the spring, he’s coached in the lacrosse program, working mostly with longtime head JV coach Trip Featherston.

 

“I’ve been an assistant for almost two decades now,” Lewis said. “All of them (meaning Blair, Ukrop, Peavey, and Featherston) helped shape not only who I am as a coach but as a person. I’ve been fortunate to be able to walk a step behind them and absorb the wisdom they impart. I don’t belong in the conversation with them, but I’ve always known that I was in the presence of great leaders.”

 

Lewis understands that with great success come high expectations. He’s faced them before as an assistant. Now, as a head coach, he welcomes the challenges that lie ahead with confidence, humility, and good humor.

 

“There’s always pressure to win, but we want to win the right way,” Lewis said. “The misconception is that people’s familiarity with golf is seeing a list of individual names on a leader board on Sunday.

      

“While high school golf is an individual pursuit and individual scores are added, the team aspect is really important. One thing I want to continue, which Jeff and (girls coach) Amy (Verdi) did so well, is promote team camaraderie.

        

“Because boys and girls play in the same season, it’s important to have a sense of the program being one big team. The beauty of team, golf included, is to be part of something bigger than yourself.”

 

A graduate of Sewanee and Ole Miss (B.A. and M.A. in history, respectively), Lewis came to Collegiate in 2005 as a Middle School history teacher, later spent time in the Development Office, and several years ago moved to the Upper School history department. He was the 2010 recipient of the Andrew J. Brent Award, which is presented annually to the career educator “who exemplifies the teacher, coach, mentor, counselor, and friend model that is so vital to an independent school.”

 

He describes himself as a regular, enthusiastic, average golfer.

 

“People sometimes joke that the best athletes don’t make good coaches because they have a hard time explaining things that come naturally to them,” he said. “I don’t have that problem, which requires me to think through things more than somebody who is naturally gifted. In coaching, I think that’s helpful.

        

“Golf tests one’s mental fortitude in ways other sports don’t. My job is not to necessarily fix a player’s swing. It’s more about mindset, approach, confidence, preparation, and learning to handle adversity.

 

“I’ve been fortunate to wear a lot of hats at Collegiate, which has exposed me to wonderful students and colleagues. I’m grateful that Collegiate has allowed me to pursue this new opportunity.”

~Weldon Bradshaw