Shumaker has a three-pronged impact on the Vandal football program.
1 – He coaches the running backs, who in the last couple of years have produced some of the best games in recent memory;
2 – He is in charge of the highly-rated special teams unit, and
3 – He leads the effort in scouring the country for the next generation of Vandals as Idaho’s recruiting coordinator.
During the past two seasons – 4-8 in 2015 and 9-4 with a bowl championship in 2016, the impact of these areas went a long way in helping the Vandals put a succession of one-victory seasons behind them.
His star of 2015 – Elijhaa Penny, was the first Vandal since 2007 to surpass the 1,000-yard mark. Penny has taken his abilities to the next level where he is an Arizona Cardinal teammate of former Idaho first-round draft pick Mike Iupati. In 2016, Shumaker’s backs combined for 1,921 yards – the most since 2009 when Iupati was a starting guard on the offensive line.
Idaho’s special teams have excelled as well. The Vandals have had a unit in the top-5 of the FBS in each of the last three seasons. The unit was ranked fourth nationally by ESPN and fifth by Football Outsiders for Special Teams Efficiency. All-American punter Austin Rehkow led the effort as he became Idaho’s first four-time first-team all-conference choice (he was the Independent Special Teams Player of the Year his freshman season). In addition to his stellar punting, he doubled as Idaho’s kicker where he earned Lou Groza finalist honors as he rewrote Idaho’s record books. He was one of just two players on the Ray Guy (nation’s best punter) and Lou Groza (nation’s best kicker) watch lists for 2016.
In 2016, the Vandals also were the only team in the country to return two blocked punts for touchdowns – senior Kendrick Trotter at Louisiana-Monroe and true freshman Lloyd Hightower in the regular-season finale against Georgia State. Blocking punts is becoming a trademark of his special teams as the Vandals were third in FBS in that category in 2014 and were second in 2016. They were equally successful in protecting their punter by leading the nation in 2013 and 2014 in fewest blocks allowed with none.
Other special teams marks in include and upgrade from fifth in FG made in 2015 to third in 2016. The team was ninth in the NCAA in kickoff coverage in 2016. Idaho came in atop the NCAA in 2013 and 2014 in punt average and ranked second in net punt in 2014.
Shumaker’s mark on the transformation of the Vandals started in the winter of 2013. He and head coach Paul Petrino’s first staff assembled players who had an immediate impact for the Vandals. With a full recruiting year to prepare for the 2014 signing day, Shumaker was able to help develop a class that had an even greater impact.
Shumaker came to Idaho after serving one year as Arkansas’ Director of High School Relations. Prior to joining the Arkansas staff, he spent seven years of collegiate coaching at small colleges from Eastern New Mexico to Midland University. At Midland, he was the associate head coach/offensive coordinator in 2011 and the run game coordinator/head junior varsity coach in 2010. The Warriors’ offense finished in the top 30 nationally in nearly every offensive category in 2011.
Shumaker was hired as the head coach of Dana College in December of 2009 and served in that role until the school closed in June of 2010.
Prior to his time at Dana, he was at the University of Saint Mary at Leavenworth, Kan., for three seasons as the offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator and offensive line and tight ends coach. The offense he directed finished in the top 30 in the nation in several categories over two seasons with four games of 500 yards total offense. Because of this success, he was chosen the 2008 KCAC Assistant Coach of the Year.
Shumaker went to USM from Eastern New Mexico, where he served as fullbacks coach and defensive line coach over two seasons and coached three All-Lone Star Conference players. Prior to his time at ENMU, he was a teacher and a coach at Rowlett, Texas.
Shumaker was born in Salina, Kan., and went to high school in Grand Prairie, Texas. From there, he attended the University of Kansas, where he played fullback for the Jayhawks. He was a five-time Jayhawk Scholar and was on the Big XII Commissioner’s Honor Roll five times. Shumaker graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science in education in 2003 and received his Master’s Degree in sports administration from Eastern New Mexico University in 2007.
He is married to the former Kate Klepper. They have two children – a son, Davis, and a daughter, Elliette.
