Women’s Basketball Coaches

Peace Shepard joined FTCC Athletics as the head women’s basketball coach in June 2021.

Shepard, a native of Jacksonville, N.C., comes to Fayetteville Tech after a seven-year stint as the head girls’ basketball coach at Holly Springs High School. She recorded over 100 wins, earning conference coach of the year honors three times and leading the program to four conference championships and five state playoff appearances.

Shepard lettered four years at N.C. State, where she played for legendary coach Kay Yow. She was a part of the 1998 Wolfpack squad that reached the NCAA Final Four.

Shepard earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from N.C. State in 1998. She spent the next three years playing professional basketball overseas, making stops in Italy, Ecuador, Brazil, Finland, Honduras and Greece.

In her off-court career, Shepard works in health services.

Peace has one daughter, Heaven MarKayla.

shepardp@faytechcc.edu, 910-678-1039

youngr@faytechcc.edu

Richard Young was born in Charlotte, NC. and has 22 years of experience of training and coaching middle, high school and college athletes. Coach Young was previously the Athletic Director at South Garner High School from 2018-2020. Prior to the transition to AD, Coach Young was the Head Men’s Varsity Basketball Coach at Holly Springs High School from 2015-2018. Coach Young was also the Holly Springs Head Women’s Varsity basketball team, he compiled 3 straight winning seasons, 3 straight rounds to the state playoff the 1st conference tournament championship in school history. Young also coached the back to back conference player of the year. Prior to his arrival at Holly Springs High, Young was the Head Coach of the JV men’s basketball team at Apex High School for 8 years as the varsity assistant for 9 years where both teams won 7 conference championships, 4 conference tournament championships and participated in the 2008 NC AAAA State championship game. Over his coaching career, Young has coached many players that received NCAA Division I & II athletic scholarships and four made it to the professional level. Young attended N.C. State University and walked on to the varsity football team as a wide receiver. He earned a B.S. in Technology Education and a Minor in Graphics Communication from NCSU and a Masters degree in the same field from North Carolina A&T State University.

Martez Kirkland joined FTCC Athletics as the Assistant Women’s basketball coach in July 2022.

Kirkland, a native of Detroit, MI, and Military dependent while his father served in United States Marine Corps, during that time Kirkland had the opportunity to live abroad in Okinawa, Japan where he completed High School at Kubasaki High. Coach Kirkland began his coaching career at an early age of 18 coaching in the local recreation centers. In 2008 Kirkland Started and founded his own travel Basketball organization called True Champion Athletics (TCA).  Where he conducts in providing skill development and enhancement for grade school level players all the way to college.

 Coach Kirkland other coaching experience includes coaching at Freedom Christian Academy as the JV Girls Head Basketball coach and the Varsity Girls Assistant Coach, New Life Boys Assistant Varsity Coach. He then moved on to Fayetteville Technical Community College after a four-year stint as the boys’ and girls’ Varsity basketball assistant coach, and one year as the Boys’ Varsity basketball Head coach recording over total of 80 wins, earning conference Assistant coach of the year honors one time and assisted in leading the program to four conference championships, one tournament Championship and three state playoff appearances during his tenure.

Kirkland played one year at Vance Granville Community College, He then join the US Army where he had a 24-year career and retired as a Master Sergeant from 3D Brigade 82nd Airborne Division

Kirkland earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Excelsior in 20007. He spent his time playing in Army leagues in Egypt, Korea and various Army base throughout his Army career. Coach Kirkland also was a contributor for Prep Girls Hoops.  Writing articles and covering talent in the local area.

Kirkland has three daughters, Alaniye, Amore’ and Ma’Joure’ Kirkland, and one son Jaden Kirkland

martezkirkland@gmail.com 910-922-0774