Robert Shoup Inducted Into NAIA Hall of Fame

By: Staci Schottman, NAIA Director of Public Relations & Communications

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Photo: CLU Sports Information

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Former California Lutheran University football coach Robert Shoup was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame on Sunday. He was the first football coach in the school's history and earned the only national title in CLC/CLU history.

Being a leader in the community and in college shaped Robert Shoup's career focus. As a standout student-athlete (football and baseball) at the University of California Santa Barbara, Shoup success in athletics led him to the coaching profession.

In his time as head football coach at California Lutheran University (CLU) (1962-1989) Shoup amassed 184 wins and a .662 winning percentage. Twenty-one of his 28 seasons as head football coach were winning seasons at CLU. Shoup was voted NAIA District 3 Coach of the Year nine consecutive years and was named the NAIA Western Coach of the Year three times. Under Shoup's direction CLU made five playoff appearances (1971, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1982) and in 1971 he led Cal Lutheran football to the NAIA Division II National Championship.

In 1968 he earned the NAIA National Award of Merit and in 1971 was named NAIA Coach of the Year. Shoup collected an incredible 14 NAIA District 3 titles in 17 years and led his team to either an NAIA Division II National Finalist or Quarter Finalist on four occasions. Shoup's football teams were listed in the top 10 winningest football teams over the last 50 years with a 182-81-6 record.

Shoup provided leadership not only by coaching and building a championship football program but also by building a championship CLU athletic department that has carried over for generations past and present.

Official Release: NAIA Hall of Fame Announced

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