Washington State coach Mike Leach has hired Western Kentucky wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator JaMarcus Shephard as the Cougars’ new inside receivers coach, as first reported by Sports Illustrated.

Western Kentucky confirmed the news to multiple media outlets, including the Seattle Times and local newspaper Bowling Green Daily News.

Shephard replaces David Yost, who was hired by Oregon earlier this month to become the Ducks’ new quarterbacks coach.

The 32-year old Shephard played wide receiver at DePauw from 2001–04, totaling 168 catches for 2,382 yards. He left as the school's all-time leader in kick return yards.

Here is Shepard’s most recent bio, updated prior to the start of the 2015 season, from the Western Kentucky University web site:

“JaMarcus Shephard enters his second season as the wide receivers coach on The Hill after a stellar rookie season on the coaching staff. He also added Special Teams duties in the spring of 2015.

In 2014, Shephard’s wide receivers were among the best in the country, highlighted by the play of first-year starter Jared Dangerfield and veteran Willie McNeal. In one season, Dangerfield broke the program’s single-season receptions record (69) and tied the single-season touchdown mark (11) while McNeal become WKU’s all-time leader in receptions (171).

Dangerfield was an All-Conference USA second teamer and McNeal picked up honorable mention accolades. Along with Dangerfield and McNeal, Shephard oversaw the development of the explosive Taywan Taylor and Antwane Grant as Taylor led all Hilltopper wideouts with a 17 yard per catch average and had 13 receptions of 20 yards or more.

In 2013, Shephard worked as a quality control assistant for the Hilltoppers, specifically helping the wide receivers transform from a run-heavy offense into a more balanced unit under then-coach Bobby Petrino.

Shephard has been at WKU since 2013, serving two years as a defensive analyst and volunteer assistant in 2011 and 2012.

A two-time Division III American Football Coaches Association at DePauw University, Shephard primarily aided in defensive scheming and identifying opponent tendencies. Additionally, he helped to monitor player academic performance and assisted in the recruiting process.

During his time on The Hill, Shephard also served as a graduate teaching assistant, conducting courses in the Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport from spring 2011 to fall 2012.

Before his arrival on The Hill, Shephard spent the 2007 season as an assistant track and field coach at DePauw. Shephard began his football coaching career at his high school alma mater, Northrop High in Fort Wayne, Ind., before moving to Indianapolis for a stint at Broad Ripple High.

At DePauw, Shephard participated in the 2005 Hula Bowl as well as the 2004 Aztec Bowl in Cancun, Mexico - both games reserved for collegiate all-stars. In Cancun, Shephard helped lead Team USA over Team Mexico, 23-3, with three kickoff returns for 95 yards including a 56-yarder to setup the team’s first touchdown. He was also one of just two Division III participants in the Hula Bowl that season.

Shephard also tied the NCAA record for kickoffs returned for touchdowns in a game with two. In his senior season, Shephard caught 47 balls for 815 yards and seven touchdowns while also taking home first team All-SCAC honors. He finished his collegiate career as DePauw’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards and kickoff return average, a mark he still holds today. His 168 career receptions still rank No. 5 all-time at DePauw while his 2,382 career receiving yards are No. 6 all-time. Shephard is also the No. 3 all-purpose player in DePauw history, tallying 3,997 yards over his career.

Shephard graduated from DePauw in 2005 with a degree in Sports Medicine while also serving as a captain on the track and field squad as well as a captain on the football team. At WKU, Shephard also earned his master’s degree in Recreation and Sport Administration.

While at DePauw in his senior year, Shephard also served a semester internship with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. From 2005 to 2007, he spent time working for the NCAA in the Education Services division before moving on to a four-year stint at the National Center from Drug Free Sport in Kansas City, Mo., from 2007 to 2011.

Shephard and his wife Hallie have a son, Jaylan, and a daughter, Alana.”

THE JAMARCUS SHEPHARD FILE

PERSONAL

Born: May 30, 1983

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.

High School: Northrop High, `01

College: DePauw, `05

Wife: Hallie

Children: Jaylan, Alana

PLAYING CAREER (Wide Receiver)

High School: Northrop High

College: Depauw (2001-04)

COACHING CAREER

2005: Northrop High (Wide Receivers)

2006: Broad Ripple High (Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs)

2007: Depauw (Assistant Track Coach - Long Jumpers and Sprinters)

2011: WKU (Defense Volunteer Assistant)

2012: WKU (Defensive Quality Control)

2013: WKU (Offensive Quality Control)

2014-15: WKU (Wide Receivers)