Chadron State College Athletics

Sharp was an exceptional team roper while attending Chadron State in the late 1970s. A heeler, he was the regional runner-up in 1976 and was the regional champion in 1977 and ’78. At that time, Chadron State was a member of the Great Plains Region that included the Dakotas, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. He also finished eighth in the nation in the intercollegiate team roping standings in 1976 and was fifth in both 1977 and ’78.
Sharp must also get credit for helping Chadron State have an outstanding women’s team in 1978-80. That’s because Jean Fuchs came to CSC after he promised to team rope with her in college. She then recruited Kathy Kennedy and Martee Meter and a short, but sweet, dynasty was born.
Originally from Texas, but a graduate of McPherson County High School at Tryon, Sharp taught math and served as the rodeo coach and dean of instruction at Clarendon College in Texas and at West Texas A&M before going to South Plains College at Levelland, Texas, in 1999 as dean of arts and sciences. He was promoted to vice president of academic affairs in January 2000 and named president of the college, which has an enrollment of about 19,000, in November 2004.
Sharp has won about 25 saddles during his roping career, including one since he became a college president. He also suffered a broken collarbone in the summer of 2008 when one of his horses bucked him off. Both are experiences that few college presidents have had.
One of his proteges at West Texas A&M was Trevor Brazile, who was seeking his fifth PRCA all-around cowboy title in 2008.