Casey Shine, interim head football coach at Chapman University, directs the Panthers. (Photo courtesy Larry Newman).
Chapman University officials announced Friday that Casey Shine has been chosen to lead the football program as the interim head coach for the 2025 season. Shine has been the Panthers’ offensive coordinator for the last 13 years and takes over the program he has helped build into one of the best in the SCIAC and on the West Coast.
Shine replaces Bob Owens, who announced his retirement in June after 18 seasons. He won more than 100 games and led Chapman to four conference titles.
Officials are impressed with the interim coach.
“There is no question that our program has thrived since Casey joined the staff,” said Director of Athletics Terry Boesel. “He did a tremendous job in working with Coach Owens to build a program that sees success on and off the field. With him stepping in to lead the team this year, we are confident we will see a seamless transition and continued success into the next era of Chapman football.”
“I am both excited and humbled to be promoted to interim head football coach,” Shine said. “I am eager to continue the winning tradition here at Chapman University while working alongside some amazing people and coaching so many talented and driven student-athletes.”
Shine’s arrival has coincided directly with the rise of Chapman football within the SCIAC and as one of the premier Division III programs on the West Coast. In his 12 seasons (there was no season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the Panthers have won all four of their SCIAC Championships and posted 11 winning seasons.
In 2019, he helped lead Chapman to the best season in program history, punctuated by a 68-65 triple overtime win over Linfield in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Shine’s offense ranked in the top-25 in scoring that season and was driven by a rushing offense that 16th in Division III at 237 yards per game.
In 2018, the Chapman offense ranked 12th in Division III for passing yards per game. The offense again ranked in the top-20 in 2022, finishing the season ranked 20th in total offense, 16th in passing yards per game and 26th in scoring.
Before joining the Chapman coaching staff in 2012, Shine spent nine seasons on the coaching staff at Santa Ana College. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, El Modena High School just down the street from Chapman’s campus.
A local product, Shine starred in football, basketball and volleyball at El Modena High School.
He was the male athlete of the year at El Modena as a senior, earning an invite to the Orange County All-Star Game for football. He played two seasons at Santa Ana College as a tight end and earned CCCAA All-State honors. He transferred to the University of Nevada, Reno for his final two seasons, catching one touchdown pass for the Wolf Pack..
Shine’s promotion to Interim head coach is effective immediately and Chapman will conduct a national search following the 2025 season.
Owens, the former head coach, took over the Chapman program in 2006 – a program that had suffered six consecutive losing seasons in the years prior. He led the Panthers to 13 winning seasons and was 106-63 over his 18 seasons, winning four SCIAC titles. He previously spent seven seasons as the head coach at Whittier, winning his first SCIAC in 1997.
In 2019, he led the Panthers to their best season ever, including the only undefeated season and NCAA Tournament win in program history. Chapman went 10-1 in 2019 with a three-overtime victory over Linfield in the NCAA first round and ended the season ranked in the top-10 for the only time in program history.
—Courtesy Steven Olveda, sports information director
