EAST PALESTINE — East Palestine’s football program added an experienced head coach who once excelled at the highest levels of the high school football in Ohio on Monday.

Rick Shepas, 60, was approved during Monday’s East Palestine Board of Education meeting.

Shepas takes over for Michael Demster, who was not retained. Demster went 17-25 over four seasons and led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 record last season including a playoff win over Western Reserve.

Shepas last coached high school football in 2004 after serving out a seven season stint at Massillon where he went 53-27 with a state championship appearance in 2001. Notably he also led Poland from 1993-95 where he went 27-7 over three seasons. Following Poland he had two seasons at Seneca Valley in Pennsylvania. His career high school record is 97-35.

In 2005 Shepas transitioned to the college game where he led Waynesburg (Pa.) University for 12 seasons, going 69-55 during that span to become the school’s winningest coach.

In high school Shepas cut his teeth as a standout receiver at Cardinal Mooney from 1980-1982. The Cardinals won two state champions under Don Bucci during that time and Shepas was later inducted into the Cardinal Mooney Hall of Fame.

He is also a member of the Youngstown State University Hall of Fame where he was inducted in 1996. From 1983-86 Shepas was a wide receiver under coach Bill Narduzzi and Jim Tressel. He recorded 150 career receptions and 2,263 yards as a Penguin, which still ranks fourth in school history.

Shepas inherits an experienced East Palestine squad that loses seven seniors and returns nearly all of its key pieces.

“Our school district and student athletes are looking forward to working with coach Shepas,” East Palestine superintendent James Rook said. “We are very confident that he will lead us to victories not only on the field, but inthe classroom and community. As a passionate and extremely devoted coach and educator, the students of East Palestine will immediately benefit from his leadership.”

Shepas will have a role in the district outside of football to assist East Palestine students in college, military or career placement upon graduation. Shepas has worked as a consultant for the East Palestine school district for three years and has secured $100,000 in grant funding. The funding has supported an after-school program at East Palestine Middle School, career boot camps for high school students, strategic community partnerships and professional development opportunities for teachers.

Last school year, Shepas helped start a State Tested Nursing Assistant program at the high school whih saw two students gain certification to enter the workforce at Covington Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in East Palestine.

On Monday, Shepas resigned as Warren City Schools athletic director effective June 30. Shepas has served as Warren City Schools athletic director since July 2024. During his time there he was able to implement a new strength and conditioning program for all the district’s athletes. He also helped developed an indoor track program for Trumbull County athletes which has since been expanded.