Chuck Shelton, who served as Drake University head football coach from 1977-85, passed away Thursday night at the age of 84. No funeral service is planned.
 
Shelton was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs in 1975 and 1976 before his promotion following the retirement of Jack Wallace.
 
Shelton guided Drake to a school-record 10-1 mark in 1981, including a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title with Tulsa with a 5-1 league record. Drake opened that campaign winning its first seven games, including an 18-17 upset victory at Kansas State.
 
During his coaching tenure at Drake, Shelton also led the Bulldogs to impressive back-to-back road victories at Colorado in 1979 and 1980 and at Iowa State in 1985.
 
Shelton also served as head coach at Utah State University from 1986 to 1992, and at University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. from 1992 to 1995, compiling a career college football coaching record of 81–127–1.
 
During a 19-year span as head coach he was honored as a four-time Conference Coach of the Year and a two time NCAA District 6 Coach of the Year.
 
He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
 
Shelton was born in Rolla, Mo., and led the state of Missouri in rushing in 1954, earning first-team all-state as well as prep All-American honors. During the 1954 season he averaged more than 12 yards per carry, and led his team to an undefeated season. He took his football talents to national powerhouse Pittsburgh State University, where he was an all-conference running back.
 
After many successful years as a head football coach at the high school (Pratt-Kan., Nevada, Mo., Smith-Cotton), and junior college levels (Pratt CC), Shelton moved to the college coaching ranks serving as an assistant at Northeast Missouri State, Eastern New Mexico and Wichita State before his arrival at Drake.