Derrick Shepard ( arena football ) Derrick L . Shepard is a former American Arena football & indoor football defensive lineman who is currently an offensive line coach for the Dayton Sharks . Shepard grew up in Dayton , Ohio and attended Meadowdale High School . His football ability earned him a scholarship off to Georgia Tech , where he participated in football for four years . After spending two years in training camps with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots , Shepard began playing arena football . He played for the Arizona Rattlers and the Detroit Fury , before playing his next 5 years in af2 with the Tennessee Valley Vipers , Cincinnati Swarm and the Louisville Fire . After playing professionally for 9 years , Shepard became a coach of indoor football for the Miami Valley Silverbacks . He had been off and on between being the Silverbacks head coach , as well as offensive and defensive line coach . In 2011 , he led the Silverbacks to a . 500 winning percentage , at the time a Silverback ' s record . Early life . He attended Meadowdale High School in Dayton , Ohio . College career . Upon his graduation , Shepard received a scholarship to play football at Georgia Tech . Shepard redshirted during his first season for Head Coach , Bill Lewis . Shepard saw very little playing time under coach Lewis , who was fired after a 1 - 7 start to the 1994 season . George O ' Leary replaced Lewis for the remaining three games , which Shepard started all three . During his junor year , Shepard scored the first touchdown of his life at any level , when he recovered a fumble and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown , which turned out to be the game winning score in a 28 - 16 game virsus N . C . State . His senior season he had one interception that he return 68 yards . After a 1997 game against Duke , Shepard was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week . Professional career . Miami Dolphins . After not hearing his named called in the 1998 NFL Draft , Shepard signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins . New England Patriots . In 1999 , Shepard signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots . He was waived on August 1 , 1999 . Arizona Rattlers . In 2000 , Shepard tried his hand at Arena football , signing with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League . He recorded 4 . 5 tackles , 1 sack and two pass breakups on the season . Detroit Fury . On April 11 , 2001 , Shepard was traded to the Detroit Fury for Kelvin Ingram . He played in just one game , recording a sack . He was waived on June 20 , 2001 . Tennessee Valley Vipers . In 2002 , Shepard played for the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the af2 . Cincinnati Swarm . In 2003 , Shepard played with the Cincinnati Swarm also of the af2 . Louisville Fire . In 2004 , Shepard joined the Louisville Fire , also of the af2 . On August 11 , 2004 , Shepard scored the game winning touchdown against the Quad City Steamwheelers in a 53 - 48 game . Miami Valley Silverbacks . In 2010 , Shepard was an offensive and defensive line coach for the Miami Valley Silverbacks . His former teammate , Brian Wells was hired as the team ' s head coach in 2010 , and he convinced Shepard to suit up for the Silverbacks . Shepard appeared in just a single game , recording one tackle on the season . Coaching career . Miami Valley / Dayton Silverbacks . 2009 . In 2008 , Shepard was named the head coach of the Miami Valley Silverbacks for the 2009 season . The Silverbacks went 0 - 10 and decided they would not retain Shepard as head coach . 2010 . In 2010 , the Silverbacks hired a former teammate and coach of Shephard ' s in Brian Wells . Wells signed Shepard as a player for the Silverbacks , but after just one game , Shepard joined the coaching staff working with the offensive and defensive lines . 2011 . In 2011 , Shepard returned to the role of head coach for the Silverbacks , as they had found a new home at Hara Arena in Dayton , Ohio . Shepard led the Silverbacks to a 5 – 5 record and earned the team their second - straight playoff berth . Their . 500 winning percentage for the season was a Silverbacks record , until it was broken in 2012 . Following the 2011 season , Shepard resigned as the Silverbacks head coach . 2012 . In 2012 , Shepard was once again the offensive and defensive line coach for the Silverbacks . He also received a role in the front office as the public relations director .