Michael Shepard fired as Wilson Central softball coach

Softball

Michael Shepard has been fired as the head softball coach at Wilson Central High School and is also suspended as a teacher at the school.

Shepard is suspended as the Wilson County Schools’ human resources department is conducting an investigation.

“It’s a very difficult situation for the players and the parents,” Wilson Central principal Travis Mayfield said.

Mayfield declined to say why Shepard was fired or why he is under investigation.

The Lady Wildcat program is one year removed from winning its first state championship, defeating defending state champion Dickson County in the 2015 Class AAA final. Wilson Central also reached the AAA State Tournament in 2014.

The Lady Wildcats compiled a 27-13 record this spring, finishing as the District 9-AAA Tournament runner-up to Hendersonville before suffering a season-ending loss at Clarksville in the Region 5-AAA Tournament semifinal round.

Shepard has led the program to a 102-37 record over the last three seasons.

“We have some great assistant coaches, and we have some great players,” Mayfield said. “We are going to try to move past this situation, and I believe we will continue to be one of the better softball programs in the state.”

Shepard has served as the softball coach and a math teacher for the last seven years.

The school plans to meet with the players following the conclusion of the current Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) two-week dead period, which concludes on Saturday.

“It’s disappointing to have to deal with a situation where everybody is in upheaval,” Mayfield said. “We will meet with the players and parents (after the dead period) and will move forward from there.”