Paul Shenton joined the Nicholls State University soccer as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2016 season and boasts 15 years of experience as a soccer coach at various levels in England and the United States.
A native of Dudley, England, Shenton comes to Nicholls after serving as the Director of Coaching for the St. Charles Soccer Club since 2013. Under his direction, the club has seen a dramatic turnaround in both numbers and success, growing from 600 to 800 players. The club has earned a total of 21 tournament championships, 18 tournament finals appearances, six State Cup Semifinals appearances, five State Cup finals appearances and four State Cup Championships with Shenton at the helm.
Shenton has also seen considerable success at the high school level as the Head Boys Soccer Coach of Vandebilt Catholic in Houma. Sheldon led the Fightin’ Terriers to the DII State Championship in 2015 and helped the program reach a national ranking of 60th by MaxPreps.
In addition to his club and high school commitments, Shenton has been a part of the Louisiana ODP staff since 2014. He has seen a number of players go on to play on the Region III ODP teams and be recruited at the collegiate level.
His past coaching experience includes time as an assistant men’s soccer coach for MMU Cheshire, coaching lecturer and assistant boys’ soccer coach for Dudley College of Technology, assistant coach for semi-professional Dudley Town FC and community soccer coach for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.
Shenton had an extensive playing career in England at the club, high school, university and semi-professional levels. His time at Dudley Town Youth Football Club and the High Arcal High School led him to being the highest goal scorer in both programs’ histories. Following high school, Shenton spent two years playing at Walsall Football Club, before joining Dudley Town Football Club to play in the sixth tier of English football. He combined his playing career and coaching career at Dudley Town FC, and also the MMU Cheshire Men’s first team, until he made the move across the Atlantic in 2011.
Shenton holds a bachelor’s degree in Coaching & Sport Development from MMU Cheshire, and numerous coaching awards, including the Football Association’s UEFA B coaching license, NSCAA Premier diploma, USSF National Youth license, NSCAA Director of Coaching diploma, NSCAA National Goalkeeping diploma and is a certified fitness instructor in the UK.
Shenton currently resides in Laplace, La. with his wife Ashley, son Oliver and daughter Elyse.
