Lubbock Christian University Athletics

Jimmy Shankle was the head coach of the Lubbock Christian baseball team for seven seasons, compiling a 342-160 (.681) record during that time. 

Shankle, who had two separate stints with the Chaparrals, led LCU to one Sooner Athletic Conference Championship (2000), two District VIII titles (1987, 1991), one Area II title (1991) and one appearance at the NAIA World Series. Lubbock Christian won at least 40 games in every season under Shankle's leadership. He was twice named the District VIII Coach of the Year, once the Area II Coach of the Year and once the Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the year. 

Under his coaching, 15 Chap players were named All-Americans, 10 were named to the All-Area Team, 28 were selected to the All-District Team and 10 were named to the All-Sooner Athletic Conference Team. Ten former LCU players were drafted or signed with Major League Baseball teams after playing under Shankle. 

The Jimmy Shankle era started off with a bang in 1987, when he became just the second Lubbock Christian baseball coach since the school had transitioned to senior college status in 1971. He replaced the legendary Larry Hays, who had left the Chaps to coach at Texas Tech. The Chaps went 44-29 during the year and were ranked second entering the District VIII Tournament, which they hosted and won before losing in the Area II Tournament. 

LCU's best season under Shankle came in 1991, when they posted a 59-15 overall record, going through the District VIII Tournament undefeated and winning the Area II Tournament to advance to the NAIA World Series for the first time since 1983. The Chaps won two games at the World Series before they were eliminated from the tournament. 

After the incredible 1991 run, Shankle left to be the head coach of the brand-new baseball program at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he led the school to its first NCAA Regional appearance in 1994. He then spent time coaching at Abilene Christian, where he was successful at the NCAA Division II level. 

After the 1999 season, Daren Hays, who had replaced Shankle as LCU's head coach, left for Texas Tech to be an assistant coach to his father Larry, and Shankle again stepped in to lead the Chaps. He posted 53 and 45 wins in two more seasons at Lubbock Christian in 2000 and 2001, includig a Sooner Athletic Conference Champioship in 2000. After the 2001 season, he retired. 

Shankle was inducted in the LCU Athletic Hall of Honor in 1999.