TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State head football coach Curt Mallory announced the addition of Wolfgang Shafer, Dere' Hicks, and Patrick Shepard to the Sycamores coaching staff on Thursday afternoon.
 
The trio of coaches come to the Sycamores and will take over key roles on the team's staff. Shafer will assume the coaching responsibilities of the safeties, while Hicks takes over the cornerbacks. Shepard will serve as the special teams coordinator.
 
"When we look at bringing in coaches, we look for high character guys knowing they will be mentors for our players," Mallory said. "All three coaches bring the type of qualities that you'd like to see in a husband, father, teacher, and leader of men. I've known of all three coaches throughout my career and I'm glad to bring back a player I've coached previously in Dere'. All three bring a lot to our coaching staff and I look forward to working with them moving forward."
 
Shafer joins the Sycamores by way of a two-year stint at Marietta College where he worked with the Pioneers' defensive backs.
 
Under Shafer's guidance, Marietta put together one of the best defensive seasons in program history with the defense finishing first in the Ohio Athletic Conference in forced turnovers and second in interceptions this past fall, while guiding two athletes to All-OAC honors with one earning All-American status.
 
Shafer came to Marietta after serving as a defensive graduate assistant coach at the University of Texas at Austin where he coached the linebackers and nickel backs. He was responsible for running the offensive scout team, opponent breakdowns and the opponent offensive scouting report.
 
Shafer helped the Longhorns to a 7-3 record in 2020 and a 55-23 victory over Colorado University in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
 
Prior to his time at Texas, Shafer was a graduate assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State University. He worked with the wide receivers on the Blue Raiders' 2017 team that finished 7-6 overall and defeated Arkansas State University, 35-30, in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.
 
Shafer moved to the defensive side of the ball in 2018 and worked with the MTU secondary. The Blue Raiders went 8-6, were the Conference USA East Division Champions and participated in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
 
Shafer played collegiately at Ithaca College, an NCAA Division III school in the Liberty League. Shafer played in 19 games at quarterback for the Bombers in his final two seasons throwing for 3,561 yards and 29 touchdowns.
 
A CoSIDA Academic All-American, Shafer received a Bachelor in Communication Studies degree from Ithaca College in 2017. He completed a Master of Professional Studies degree at Middle Tennessee State University in 2019.
 
Hicks joins the staff by way of Savannah State University where he served as the defensive backs coach this past fall. Under his tutelage, the Tigers defensive backs were ranked third overall in the country in interceptions (14), while the defense was ranked fifth overall.
 
The Tigers boasted two All-Conference defensive backs in Nyem Bozeman and Marvin Grunchie with another, LeVante Larry being invited to participate in the postseason FCS Bowl. He also worked with All-SIAC First Team return specialist Einaj Carter who finished ninth in the county in punt returns and second in the SIAC in kickoff return average.
 
Prior to his time at Savannah State, Hicks served as the offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach at Virginia University of Lynchburg from January 2020 – May 2021. Over his time at VUL, he helped develop a spread-style offensive game plan while coaching the wide receivers on alignment, assignments, and execution of fundaments.
 
He previously also served as the defensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator for the Virginia Prep Sports Academy in the fall of 2019 working on a recruiting database that targeted athletes from all throughout the Southeast with an emphasis in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. He also created a play-fast mentality to the Virginia Prep team that helped limit opponents to just 14.8 points per game.
 
Hicks got his coaching start at Roanoke City Public Schools serving as the varsity coach from 2013-17 working with position groups all over the field.
 
He was a four-year letter-winner and starter for the University of Illinois at cornerback from 2006-09. He lined up in 47 career games and posted 143 tackles, three interceptions, 19 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
 
Hicks graduated with a Bachelor in Sports Communications degree from the University of Illinois in 2010.
 
Shepard joins the Sycamores by way of Western Illinois University where he served as the Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator for the Leathernecks.
 
He was also responsible for Western's tight ends, after previously serving the team's running backs from 2018-19. In his first two seasons at Western, Shepard coached full back Clint Ratkovich to back-to-back First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors. The 2018 season also saw running back Steve McShane ranked 47th in the nation, third in the MVFC, in rushing yards per carry. McShane went on to earn a camp invite with the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) before signing a contract with the Houston Roughnecks (XFL). 
 
A year later, Shepard laid claim to one of the best kick returners in the nation. Justin Hall not only garnered Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-American Fourth Team recognition, but he also ranked 20th in the FCS, with a Valley-leading, 706 combined return yards. As the Leathernecks' special teams coordinator, Shepard also guided Adam Fellner to the 18th-best average in yards per punt (42.5).
 
Shepard went to Macomb after a stint at the University of Wyoming, where he was responsible for assisting quarterbacks and special teams. Shepard helped with the development of quarterback Josh Allen, the seventh overall selection in the 2018 National Football League Draft, and also guided the Cowboys to the top kickoff return unit in the nation. The team led the Mountain West Conference in three categories in 2017 (kickoff return defense, punt return defense, and kickoff return average).
 
As an assistant coach at Robert Morris University, Shepard coached tight ends from 2010-12, and was the wide receivers and pass game coordinator until 2016. The program won a Northeast Conference championship in 2010, where Shepard also guided tight end Shadrae King to First Team FCS AP All-American honors.
 
Shepard was a three-year letter winner at tight end at Miami University (OH). He earned a Bachelor's in History with a minor in Coaching in 2009 and a Master's in Informational Systems and Communication from Robert Morris in 2011.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Football, visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.