Brett Davis: USA TODAY Sports
Seeing that there was a need to keep up with the ever-changing college football recruiting landscape among other elite programs across the nation, Texas Longhorns head coach Mack Brown recently revamped his commitment to recruiting by adding a Department of Player Personnel. His first hire was Patrick Suddes from the Alabama Crimson Tide, who was named as the director of the newly created department. Early this morning, Brown announced the latest addition to his staff, and it’s a name that Longhorns fans know well.
Bob Shipley, a well-respected high school coach and athletic director in the State of Texas (most recently at Brownwood High School) was named to the newly created position of football analyst. Despite his strong reputation in football circles across the state, he’s probably known best to Longhorns fans as the father of standout wide receivers Jordan and Jaxon Shipley.
In the new role, Shipley will help with the recruitment of prospective players and co-coordinate the walk-on program. Additionally, he will help plan the high school coaching clinic each year and oversee summer camps. Shipley will also oversee recruits on official visits among other daily administrative processes in the player personnel department while serving as a liaison among high schools.
Since the recent establishment of this department , the Longhorns have regained the recruiting momentum within the State of Texas. In the last couple of months, they have added many solid players to the 2014 recruiting class and have already started to pull in a strong (and currently No. 1) 2015 class.
Because of his reputation and ties to high school football, Bob Shipley is a very solid hire and should have a lot to offer the Longhorns.
