John Shumate - Men's Basketball Coach - Grand Canyon University Athletics

John Shumate

Title:
Head Coach

Year	School	Record
1983-84	GCU	21-9
1984-85	GCU	18-16
1985-86	GCU	19-8
GCU career	(3 seasons)	58-33

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John Shumate spent three seasons as the head coach of the men's basketball program and ranks fifth in winning percentage among all Grand Canyon head coaches.

A former Phoenix Sun, Shumate and the Lopes recorded a 21-9 record in his first season.

In his second year, the Lopes struggled for a 17-16 on-court record but did manage to make the finals of the NAIA District VIII Playoffs.

In his final season, GCU rebounded to post a 19-8 record. However, the Lopes failed to qualify for postseason play for the first time since the 1970-71 season. It snapped a string of 14 consecutive years in playoff action when they finished fifth according to the NAIA District VII rating system that established postseason qualifiers.

Shumate came to Grand Canyon in the summer of 1983 after spending two and a half years at Notre Dame, where he served as a volunteer assistant coach to Digger Phelps as was the school's Assistant Minority Placement Director.

Shumate first hit the limelight as a player at Notre Dame. A consensus All-American for the Fighting Irish, Shumate was selected in the first round of the 1974 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. His professional playing career was shortened because of health problems, but he did log seven years on NBA hardwoods. During his playing days, Shumate spent time with the San Antonio Spurs, Buffalo Braves and Detroit Pistons in addition to playing for the Suns.

A 1974 graduate of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Sociology, Shumate has been honored as an athlete in being selected to both the AP and UPI Basketball All-America teams his final year at Notre Dame. He was also selected to the NBA All-Rookie team.