Interim tag removed, Shelton Lady Lions’ new coach

By Troy Schulte/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

When it began, Tuesday didn’t feel much different for Cary Shelton.

Like he has for the last two months, Shelton showed up to his office at the Kenneth L. Johnson HPER Complex, took an NCAA certification test and by mid-afternoon was pouring over videos of high school basketball games.

But in the middle of that day Shelton, who has been Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s interim women’s basketball coach since March 19, received a phone call from athletic director Skip Perkins that officially ended his tenure with that title. On Tuesday, Perkins announced that Shelton will take over as UAPB women’s basketball coach on a full-time basis, effective July 1.

Shelton, who has been at UAPB since 2005 as either a men’s or women’s basketball assistant, takes over for Danny Evans, whose contract was not renewed after compiling a 42-78 record over five seasons. Shelton’s three-year contract will be worth close to $60,000 per year.

“It’s an excellent opportunity,” Shelton said. “I’m looking forward to continue to put this team together.”

It’s those tasks that Shelton, 39, plans to continue that Perkins said made him standout against more than 20 applicants and two other finalists.

Perkins didn’t hold a formal interview with Shelton until last Thursday, but by that time, he already knew quite a bit about the Star City-native. The Athletic Director first became impressed with Shelton last spring, when he interviewed for the men’s basketball coaching job that eventually went to George Ivory.

Shelton had spent three years as an assistant under former coach Van Holt until he resigned in March 2008. Shelton wasn’t given the permanent job after interviewing but he impressed Perkins so much that when time came to name an interim women’s coach Perkins turned to him.

“That’s when I first was like ‘Hold on, coach actually is a diamond in the rough,’” Perkins said. “When it came around for the interim job, it was prime opportunity to let me put him in this spot and we just ran with it.”

Twice during the search process Perkins called Shelton the front-runner for the permanent job and on Tuesday he said there wasn’t ever a time that any of the other candidates were being considered more than he was.

Perkins said he saw Shelton arrive on campus before 8 a.m. most days and stay until late at night. He finalized a recruiting class that earned signed letters of intent from 13 players, though Shelton said last month three of them probably won’t be eligible. He also put together and ran a pair of on-campus camps, one for high school teams and one for players.

“I knew that he had a good work ethic but I didn’t know what type of energy and drive that he has,” Perkins said. “I didn’t have to stay on campus. I could have jumped out. But I liked what I saw.”

Neither Shelton nor Perkins said the new coach’s lack of head-coaching experience is a cause for concern. Shelton last led a program from 2002-2004 when he was coaching the Jonesboro Miracles, a 13-17 year-old AAU program.

Since then, Shelton served as a student assistant at Arkansas State for one season before arriving at UAPB to assist Holt in 2005. He cited his experiences outside of basketball, including a stint in the Army in which he was deployed to Kuwait in 1997 as part of Operation Desert Fox, as well as his coaching experience as reasons he is right for the job.

“I understand people,” Shelton said. “I understand how to get the maximum effort out of the players on the floor and your staff and everyone surrounding basketball.

“I certainly understand if people struggle with the idea of my having the opportunity to be the head coach, the only thing I can say is pay attention to the UAPB women’s basketball team next season.”

Shelton said he has yet to decide on the makeup of his staff. He, like Evans before him, will have two full-time assistants under him and has the option of retaining Stacie Vincent and promoting Jessica Kern, who was a graduate assistant last season.

The only thing known for sure is that Ciara Shields, who was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season, will be on the staff as a student assistant.

Kern was one of the three finalists interviewed and Perkins walked away from that conversation impressed as she emerged as an intriguing candidate. Perkins said the third candidate requested not to be identified.

“I think coach Kern is an absolute gem,” Perkins said. “She’s in your face. She’s tough. She will be a head coach soon.”

Shelton will have the benefit of six returning players from last year’s team that finished 12-18 overall, 10-8 in the conference and reached the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament. Shelton said short-term goals for next season include a team that has stronger cohesion, pays close attention to detail and sound defense.

Long-term goals include reaching the SWAC Tournament final and eventually making UAPB’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. An accomplishment that could come much easier now that Shelton’s days of wondering about his immediate future have come to an end.

“We are going to understand the game, love the game and the kids are going to have so much enthusiasm and hustle,” Shelton said. “And (they will have) appreciation for the university and appreciation for Pine Bluff as a whole.”