SMSU Athletics

Lew Shaver (coach) has been a part of SMSU athletics since 1969 and served as head wheelchair basketball coach for nearly 30 years.

Shaver began teaching and coaching at SMSU in 1969 and spent 26 seasons as the head coach of the wheelchair basketball team compiling a record of 339-241 from 1969-95.  

During his tenure, SMSU won three national championships in 1981, 1983 and 1986.  The team also finished as national runners-up six times and won or shared the Central Intercollegiate Conference title from 1978 through 1986.

Recognized nationally as a wheelchair basketball expert, Shave has written or co-authored three books on the sport.  He was also the assistant coach on three international championship wheelchair basketball teams.

Shaver also coached football for four year at SMSU, including the 1977 and 1978 seasons as head coach.

Shaver returned to SMSU as an assistant coach for wheelchair basketball in 2008 and served as head coach from 2009-12.