Chad Shepherd

Part of Howard County wrestling royalty, Chad Shepherd won the 135-pound IHSAA state title as a junior in 1991. He finished that season 43–1. He was a three-time state qualifier and a four-time qualifier at semi-state, regional, and sectional. He won four Mid-Indiana Conference titles and closed his career 136–19. In 1993, Shepherd entered the Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame with his brothers David, Bret, Rich, and Ray. He later coached at Carroll (1998–2001) and took over Western’s program in 2002. With Western, he helped secure seven sectional titles—three as an athlete and four as a coach—and five regional crowns—two as an athlete and three as a coach. In 2023, he was INDIANAMAT’s 2A Coach of the Year. Shepherd also excelled in football as a three-year starter in Western’s secondary. He was a 1992 Indiana North All-Star, the 1991 Kokomo Tribune All-Area Defensive Player of the Year, a Top 100 IFCA Class 3A pick, and an AP 3A Honorable Mention. Chad and his wife, Cheyenne, live in Kokomo. He has four children—Donavan, Hayden, Dake, and Summitt—and works for the Kokomo School Corporation while coaching wrestling at Western High School.