Entering his third season as the offensive coordinator for the Rams is Tye Hiatt. Hiatt came to Shepherd after spending four seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Frostburg State University.
Hiatt helped lead Shepherd to a 10-3 mark and an NCAA II playoff appearance in its first season of competition in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) in 2019. Shepherd gained the team statistical champion honors in passing yards per game (347.0) while ranking third in completion percentage (.703), fifth in first down offense (324), and sixth in total offense (507.0). Additionally, quarterback Tyson Bagent was the NCAA II statistical champion in passing yards per game (362.4) and completions per game (28.58). Shepherd had a 1,000-yard rusher (Deonte Glover, 1,359) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (Dylan Brewer, 1,234 and Devin Phelps, 1,104) for only the second time in program history.
Shepherd posted a 7-3 mark in 2018 with freshman quarterback Tyson Bagent setting numerous program passing marks. Bagent ranked in the top 11 in eight NCAA II statistical categories
Hiatt helped lead Frostburg State to an 11-2 mark in 2017 as the Bobcats advanced to the NCAA II quarterfinals before they fell to national champion Mount Union. FSU averaged 36.0 points and 418.4 yards of total offense on the season
In 2016 the Bobcats emerged as one of the top schools in the country and the Frostburg offense finished fourth in the NJAC in scoring offense (24.4) and fourth in offensive TDs (30). The Bobcats also finished fifth in the league in total offense (312.5).
FSU, which finished the season with nine-straight wins, scored 20 or more points in nine games and produced 400 yards in total offense in three games. Frostburg ran for 1,546 yards and threw for another 1,892 yards.
Under his guidance, Frostburg set a school record in 2015 in completion percentage (.611) and finished with nearly 1,600 yards passing with 13 touchdowns. On the ground, the Bobcats ran for 1,643 yards and another 13 touchdowns and finished fourth in the NJAC in rushing offense.
In his first season, Frostburg finished seventh in the Empire 8 in rushing yards (1,273) and rushing yards per game (127.3). The Bobcats totaled 2,490 yards in total offense and scored 20 touchdowns. Frostburg posted a season-high 343 yards in total offense in a 38-37 double overtime victory over 25th-ranked Ithaca on Homecoming.
Hiatt came to Frostburg following a three-year stint with the Southern Virginia University football program. Hiatt served as wide receivers coach in 2011 and was promoted to the run game coordinator position for the 2012 season.
In 2013, Hiatt was SVU’s offensive coordinator and directed a group that averaged 30 points per game, racked up 323.0 yards per contest in total offense and held the ball for nearly 33 minutes a game. The Knights, who won a school-record eight games in 2013, posted over 400 yards in total offense in three of the team’s final five games.
Hiatt was a four-year member and standout wide receiver for the Southern Virginia football program. He is second all-time in school history in career receiving yards (1,591), receptions (127) and touchdown receptions (15) while placing third in all-purpose yards (1,871).
Hiatt garnered NAIA All-Independent First Team, Roanoke Times All-State First Team and VaSID All-State Second Team honors following a stellar senior season in 2008. That same year, Hiatt was named an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American.
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern Virginia in physical education and recreation administration in 2012 and earned his master’s degree in sport administration from Liberty in 2015.
Hiatt and his wife, Paige, have three children - Blake, Neil, and Zack.
