Shock fire Shackleford, hire Keefe

Adam Shackleford is out as head coach of the Spokane Shock and he will be replaced by former Shock standout Rob Keefe, The Spokesman-Review has learned. The Shock, who are on the verge of moving into a new league that is expected to compete at the highest level of arena football, issued a press release late Wednesday morning announcing Shackleford won’t be back for a fourth season as head coach. Spokane went 19-1 in Shackleford’s final season, winning the ArenaCup title last month in Las Vegas. “We really gave ‘Shack’ a month to get off the (ArenaCup) championship and come back down and get ready for next season,” Shock majority owner Brady Nelson said. “Unfortunately we didn’t have a lot of time to enjoy the championship because we know we’re playing in this new league and it’s going to take another level or commitment and work. “The more and more we started working toward our goals, the more we felt we wanted to go in a different direction.” Shackleford was disappointed with ownership’s decision. “I wanted to be here, I planned on being here and was still working hard, and I was fired,” said Shackleford, who coached Spokane to three division championships, two conference championships and one ArenaCup title in three seasons. “I don’t want anybody to think this is what I wanted.” Keefe was an assistant for the Shock this season, coaching the defensive backs and coordinating special teams. He was a standout defensive back on Spokane’s 2006 ArenaCup championship team and went on to play for Philadelphia, which captured the Arena Football League championship in 2008.