(Park Hills) — Mineral Area College has hired Carrie Shephard as Head Women's Basketball Coach. Coach Shephard replaces former Head Coach Briley Palmer, who recently accepted the head women's basketball coaching position at Southeast Missouri State University.  Coach Shephard spent the 2023-2024 season as Coach Palmer’s assistant coach, helping lead the Cardinals to a 25-5 record.  MAC also spent 12 weeks ranked in the NJCAA D1 Women’s Basketball Rankings, rising to as high as #15 on January 29.  Carrie came to MAC after spending three years as the facility manager at Sportsplex in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 

As a student-athlete, Carrie was twice named Class 2 Player of the Year while competing at South Pemiscot High School in Steele, Missouri.  Her additional prep accolades include twice being nominated as a McDonald’s All-American and being named Miss Show-Me Basketball in 2014.  After high school, Carrie went on to play at the University of Missouri before transferring to Southeast Missouri State University.  While at SEMO, she helped lead the Redhawks to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in 2020.

Coach Shephard earned a bachelor's degree in marketing management and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

MAC Athletic Director Jim Gerwitz says, "We are thrilled to welcome Coach Shephard as our new head women’s basketball coach.  Carrie has the passion, energy, and knowledge to build on our recent success and guide our program to new heights."