Back in the game

Coach comes out of retirement for challenge

By Eric Moore

LITTLE ROCK — For the past three years, Gary Shoptaw, 58, has been enjoying the perks of retirement.

Whether it is being able to spend time with his wife of 36 years, Charlotte, who retired at the same time he did, or playing dominoes at the local store in Prattsville, retirement came easy for Shoptaw.

Without the rigors of a basketball season on his mind, the former Poyen coach was even able to make twice monthly trips to Birmingham to see his grandchildren.

Then a funny thing happened. He heard about the opening at Glen Rose High School.

“I’ve entertained thoughts [of coming out of retirement], but in the past I had gotten over it qu ick ly,” Shopt aw said.

“I had never given it more than a fleeting thought, but I couldn’t find anything to discourage me, to dim my enthusiasm [about this job].”

Just seven years removed from an undefeated, championship season at nearby rival Poyen, and three years into retirement, the thought of coaching again was just too appealing for Shoptaw. Couple that with the reception he has received at Glen Rose, and it’s no wonder why he will be roaming the sidelines once again.

“Everyone here has been really positive and encouraging,” Shoptaw said. “I appreciate the challenge, and anything worth doing is challenging.”

The upcoming season will be Shoptaw’s 32nd year in the profession, and most of the time he was able to stay close to his hometown of Prattsville in Grant County. Other than the 14 years he spent at Pulaski Academy, he never had to travel more than 30 minutes from home.

After graduating from Henderson State University, Shoptaw got a job with Pulaski Academy as an assistant head coach.

In just three years, however, he wa s promoted to head coach and other schools came calling. When the Sheridan head coaching position opened up, it was an opportunity for him to be closer to home.

After three years in Sheridan, Shoptaw spent a year as an assistant coach at Bryant before becoming the head coach at Pulaski Academy again.

For 10 years, he lead the Bruins before his dream job opened up. He would finally get to coach his alma mater, but two years into his tenure, the school shut down and he accepted the head coaching position at Prattsville’s biggest rival, Poyen.

At Poyen he had unrivaled success. In his second year, he took them to the state tournament and then a state championship just a few years later.

With much of his life devoted to basketball, it was surprising to many of those around him when he retired, and he was often asked by his former players what he was doing with all that free time.

“I asked them what they did on Saturdays,” Shoptaw said. “I’ve had three years of Saturdays.”

The Glen Rose job will be like many of the others Shoptaw has taken - a rebuilding project. Fans of Glen Rose basketball can take solace in the fact that nearly everywhere Shoptaw has been, he was able to turn around a program in short order.

At Pulaski Academy, in his second year he led the team to a 20 -win season for the first time. It is his team’s ability to exceed expectations that makes coaching basketball such a joy for Shoptaw.

“That’s one of the most gratifying things,” Shoptaw said. “Seeing them exceed their, their parents and fans’expectations.”

Shoptaw will bring an uptempo offense and an in-yourface defense to Glen Rose that he hopes will bring excitement to the basketball program, which in turn means more numbers.

With his style of play, many players are needed to field a team.

Shoptaw talks about his past with a smile, but he is always looking ahead. As much as he enjoyed the stops he made previous to Glen Rose,the Beavers are the important thing to him now.

“The most important team to me is in that locker room,” Shoptaw said. “I’m looking forward to doing all I can to help them win in the years to come.”

Tri-Lakes, Pages 117 on 08/03/2008