Boise State Athletics
Shields Returns as Head Coach
5/4/2022 1:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis
BOISE, Idaho – Former Boise State men's tennis All-American and associate head coach Luke Shields, selected for induction as part of the 2020 Boise State Athletics Hall of Fame, has been named the Broncos' men's tennis head coach, director of athletics Jeramiah Dickey announced Wednesday.
"Luke checked every box we were looking for in our next head coach," Dickey said. "He is a servant leader that is committed to the student-athlete experience, and he has a proven track record as a recruiter and a head coach. It just so happens that he is also one of the greatest student-athletes in the history of our department, and he cares deeply about the direction of this program. He is an elite competitor and a man of integrity, and I couldn't be more thrilled to bring him home to Boise."
Shields, who owns Boise State's career (119) and single-season (35; twice) wins records, previously spent six seasons as the head coach at Fresno State (2014-21) and was the associate head coach at Oklahoma this past year.
"It feels great to be coming home!" Shields said. "I spent eight years in Boise, and I'm thrilled to be coming back to a place where I have so many fond memories. We will work hard so that this program is consistently competing as one of the best in the country. The standards will be higher than they've ever been.
"I want to thank Jeramiah Dickey for his vision and transparency throughout the hiring process. We have a bright future because of the leadership at Boise State. I also want to thank Beck Roghaar and his staff for making this a smooth transition and keeping the team together this year. Great things are ahead, and I can't wait to get started!"
In Shields' lone season with Oklahoma, the Sooners ranked as high as No. 19 nationally and were selected to the NCAA Tournament earlier this week.
While at Fresno State, Shields was a two-time Mountain West Coach of the Year honoree, earning the accolade in both 2017 and 2019. The Bulldogs captured the MW Championship in 2019, earning Fresno State its first trip to the NCAA Championship since 2012, for which Shields was also named ITA Northwest Region Coach of the Year.
Shields led Fresno State to 12 All-MW singles and four All-MW doubles team selections. Known as one of the nation's top recruiters, Shields signed the 22nd-ranked class in 2019.
The Bulldogs went 20-4 in 2021, the program's most wins since 2012 and its best winning percentage (.833) this century. Shields ushered in one of the most successful stretches in Fresno State history, winning a conference championship and finishing ranked inside the top 60 nationally in each of his final two seasons. Â
Prior to his run at Fresno State, Shields served as the associate head coach with the Broncos from 2013-15. During the 2013-14 campaign, he helped guide Boise State to a 28-5 record, the team's best mark in nearly 20 years, and a final ITA ranking of No. 29. Additionally, his time as an assistant in Boise produced two conference championships and berths in the NCAA Championship.
Before returning to his alma mater, Shields, originally from Grand Junction, Colo., spent two seasons as the assistant women's tennis coach at Washington, where the Huskies finished inside the top 50 both years.
Following his graduation from Boise State in 2008, Shields remained with the Broncos as a volunteer assistant for two seasons and helped the Broncos to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 for the second time in program history.
He spent the 2010-11 season at Marshall, serving as the women's tennis assistant coach. During that season, the team was ranked as high as No. 34 nationally.
Shields enjoyed a collegiate playing career that saw him rank as high as fifth nationally in singles and fourth in doubles. He represented Boise State at the NCAA Doubles Championship all four years and finished in the Round of 16 in 2005, with Thomas Schoeck, and in 2008, with his brother Clancy Shields. Additionally, he reached the NCAA Singles Championship three times, including a Round of 16 appearance in 2005.
Shields earned ITA All-America honors in singles competition in 2007 after finishing the year ranked No. 13, and in both singles and doubles as a freshman in 2005. He capped his freshman season ranked No. 8 in doubles. He helped lead the Broncos to WAC Championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and earned All-WAC First Team honors every season.
The two-time team captain was the WAC Player of the Year in 2007 when he made the quarterfinals of both the ITA National Indoor Championships and the ITA All-American Championships. Shields won the ITA Mountain Regional singles title as a senior, and was named WAC Freshman of the Year during his collegiate debut. He also made the ITA National Indoor doubles semifinals as a sophomore.
Shields also excelled in the classroom and was recognized for his exemplary sportsmanship. He received the USTA Sportsmanship Award at the 2007 USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships and was named to the WAC All-Academic Team all four years of his career.
In 2008, Shields earned his undergraduate degree from Boise State in communications with an emphasis in secondary education and kinesiology.
"Luke checked every box we were looking for in our next head coach," Dickey said. "He is a servant leader that is committed to the student-athlete experience, and he has a proven track record as a recruiter and a head coach. It just so happens that he is also one of the greatest student-athletes in the history of our department, and he cares deeply about the direction of this program. He is an elite competitor and a man of integrity, and I couldn't be more thrilled to bring him home to Boise."
Shields, who owns Boise State's career (119) and single-season (35; twice) wins records, previously spent six seasons as the head coach at Fresno State (2014-21) and was the associate head coach at Oklahoma this past year.
"It feels great to be coming home!" Shields said. "I spent eight years in Boise, and I'm thrilled to be coming back to a place where I have so many fond memories. We will work hard so that this program is consistently competing as one of the best in the country. The standards will be higher than they've ever been.
"I want to thank Jeramiah Dickey for his vision and transparency throughout the hiring process. We have a bright future because of the leadership at Boise State. I also want to thank Beck Roghaar and his staff for making this a smooth transition and keeping the team together this year. Great things are ahead, and I can't wait to get started!"
In Shields' lone season with Oklahoma, the Sooners ranked as high as No. 19 nationally and were selected to the NCAA Tournament earlier this week.
While at Fresno State, Shields was a two-time Mountain West Coach of the Year honoree, earning the accolade in both 2017 and 2019. The Bulldogs captured the MW Championship in 2019, earning Fresno State its first trip to the NCAA Championship since 2012, for which Shields was also named ITA Northwest Region Coach of the Year.
Shields led Fresno State to 12 All-MW singles and four All-MW doubles team selections. Known as one of the nation's top recruiters, Shields signed the 22nd-ranked class in 2019.
The Bulldogs went 20-4 in 2021, the program's most wins since 2012 and its best winning percentage (.833) this century. Shields ushered in one of the most successful stretches in Fresno State history, winning a conference championship and finishing ranked inside the top 60 nationally in each of his final two seasons. Â
Prior to his run at Fresno State, Shields served as the associate head coach with the Broncos from 2013-15. During the 2013-14 campaign, he helped guide Boise State to a 28-5 record, the team's best mark in nearly 20 years, and a final ITA ranking of No. 29. Additionally, his time as an assistant in Boise produced two conference championships and berths in the NCAA Championship.
Before returning to his alma mater, Shields, originally from Grand Junction, Colo., spent two seasons as the assistant women's tennis coach at Washington, where the Huskies finished inside the top 50 both years.
Following his graduation from Boise State in 2008, Shields remained with the Broncos as a volunteer assistant for two seasons and helped the Broncos to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 for the second time in program history.
He spent the 2010-11 season at Marshall, serving as the women's tennis assistant coach. During that season, the team was ranked as high as No. 34 nationally.
Shields enjoyed a collegiate playing career that saw him rank as high as fifth nationally in singles and fourth in doubles. He represented Boise State at the NCAA Doubles Championship all four years and finished in the Round of 16 in 2005, with Thomas Schoeck, and in 2008, with his brother Clancy Shields. Additionally, he reached the NCAA Singles Championship three times, including a Round of 16 appearance in 2005.
Shields earned ITA All-America honors in singles competition in 2007 after finishing the year ranked No. 13, and in both singles and doubles as a freshman in 2005. He capped his freshman season ranked No. 8 in doubles. He helped lead the Broncos to WAC Championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and earned All-WAC First Team honors every season.
The two-time team captain was the WAC Player of the Year in 2007 when he made the quarterfinals of both the ITA National Indoor Championships and the ITA All-American Championships. Shields won the ITA Mountain Regional singles title as a senior, and was named WAC Freshman of the Year during his collegiate debut. He also made the ITA National Indoor doubles semifinals as a sophomore.
Shields also excelled in the classroom and was recognized for his exemplary sportsmanship. He received the USTA Sportsmanship Award at the 2007 USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships and was named to the WAC All-Academic Team all four years of his career.
In 2008, Shields earned his undergraduate degree from Boise State in communications with an emphasis in secondary education and kinesiology.
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