Coach David Shelton came to Walters State in the 2003. Prior to Walters State, he served as an assistant at East Tennessee State University for five years, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

Coach Shelton is a native of Erwin, Tenn. and played collegiate baseball at Milligan College, where he is among the career leaders in many offensive categories. At Milligan, Shelton earned degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science.

Coach Shelton spent 10 seasons as the recruiting coordinator at Walters State, working under Hall-of-Fame Coach Ken Campbell. During his tenure as assistant, the Senators compiled a record of 471 – 118, for a .800 winning percentage, and made 4 trips to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. The Senators won the National Championship in 2006. Coach Shelton recruited and coached 50 players who were drafted by Major League Baseball Teams during his time as Recruiting Coordinator. Since 2006, Coach Shelton has also served as an Associate Scout for the Atlanta Braves, with 16 former Senators having signed with the Braves.

Coach Shelton became head coach at Walters State in 2014. In 9 full seasons (and partial Covid year in 2020), the Senators have compiled an overall record of 497-108 (.821 win pct), an average yearly record of 53-11, and have won 7 Regular Season TCCAA Championships, 5 Region VII Tournament Championships, and made 5 trips to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, CO finishing 3rd (2015), 2nd (2018), 3^rd (2019), 7^th (2021), 3^rd (2022). 

In 2014, the Senators compiled a 43-18 record. Fourteen players signed with four-year schools, including 11 Division I signees. Four players were also selected in the MLB draft, including future Major League Players, Brent Honeywell to the Tampa Bay Rays (2^nd Round), Brett Martin to the Texas Rangers (4^th Round).

 In 2015, in Coach Shelton’s 2nd season as Head Coach, he led the Senators to an overall record of 57-12, at the time, the second most wins in school history. In the process, the Senators made their 7th trip to the Juco World Series in Grand Junction, earning a 3rd place finish. The Senators also won the TCCAA Regular Season Championship, the NJCAA Region VII Tournament Championship, and the NJCAA East Central District Championship. Shelton was named TCCAA Coach of the Year as well as East Central District Coach of the Year. The Senators had 3 players (Matt Pope, Reed Hayes, and Dylan Horne) drafted by Major League Baseball. They also had 10 players sign with 4-year schools, 8 Division I signees, and 5 sign with SEC or ACC schools.

2016 saw the Senators compile a 47-16 mark, winning the TCCAA Regular Season Championship and were ranked as high as #2 in the Nation. The Senators had both the TCCAA Player & Pitcher of the Year in Ramon Osuna and Jake Miednik, with both earning All-American status. Miednik was also named NJCAA National Pitcher of the Year. Osuna was drafted in the 14^th round by the Atlanta Braves. The Senators had 11 players sign with 4-year schools, 9 Division I signees, and 1 SEC signee.

The 2017 Senators earned a 44-12 overall record and were ranked as high as #2 in the Nation. 3 Senators (Hunter Wolfe, Ricky Karcher, and Hunter Stratton) were drafted by Major League teams. The Senators had 10 players sign with 4-year schools, 8 Division 1, and 4 SEC signees.

2018 saw the Senators enjoy one of the most successful in school history. Walters State finished the season with a 60-8 record, won the TCCAA Regular Season and Tournament Championship, won the East Central District Championship, and finished National Runner-Up in the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, CO. The Senators spent the majority of the year ranked #1 in the Nation. The Senators had both the TCCAA Player of the Year in Austin Henry and Pitcher of the Year in Landon Knack. Henry, Knack, Hunter Wolfe, and Dylan Harris were all selected as NJCAA All-Americans. Wolfe was drafted by the Kansas City Royals. 18 Senators signed with 4-Year Schools, 17 Division I, and 10 Power-5 signees.

In 2019, the Senators earned back-to-back trips to Grand Junction for only the 2^nd time in school history. Finishing with a 54-11 record, the Senators again won the TCCAA Regular Season and Tournament Championship, won the East Central District Championship and finished tied for 3^rd in the Juco World Series in Colorado. Alex Haynes was named TCCAA Pitcher of the Year. Haynes was drafted in the 15^th round by the Colorado Rockies and Corey Stone was drafted in the 26^th round by the Texas Rangers. The Senators had 16 players sign with 4-year schools, 14 with Division I schools, and 4 with Power-5 institutions.

In spite of playing less than half the season in 2020 due to Covid-19, the Senators still managed to send 13 players to the Division I level, including 6 to Power-5 schools. The Senators were 20-7 in the shortened season.

In 2021, the Senators earned their 3^rd consecutive trip to Grand Junction for the first time in school history. Compiling the best record in program history at 61-7, tying the record for the most wins in school history. Walters State won the TCCAA East Regular Season Championship, the Region VII Tournament Championship, and the Appalachian District Championship. The Senators set a school record with a 31-game win streak. Alberto Osuna was named TCCAA Player of the Year, 1^st Team NJCAA All-American, and NJCAA National Player of the Year as he hit .453 with 25 HR and a school record 107 RBI’s. Jerry Hammons was named 2^nd Team NJCAA All-American. 15 Senators signed with 4-year schools, including 13 at the Division I level.

2022 saw Walters State earn their 4^th consecutive trip to Grand Junction while setting a school record in winning percentage in a season going 60-7 (.896 win pct). It was Walters State’s 2^nd consecutive 60-win season, and 3^rd in four seasons. The Senators won the TCCAA Regular Season Championship, the Region VII Tournament Championship, and the Appalachian District Championship. Kohl Drake was named TCCAA Pitcher of the Year, 1^st Team NJCAA All-American, and NJCAA National Pitcher of the Year as he went 14-0 with a 1.93 ERA, while leading the nation with a school record 160 K’s with only 17 BB. Caleb McNeely was named TCCAA Player of the Year and 1^st Team NJCAA All-American. Colby Backus was named 2^nd Team NJCAA All-American, while Jake Knapp was named 3^rd Team NJCAA All-American. 10 Senators signed with 4-year schools, including 8 Division I and 4 Power-5 signees. 3 Senators were drafted by MLB Teams: Wesley Scott (8^th rnd Kansas City), Kohl Drake (11^th rnd Texas), and Geo Rivera (19^th rnd Cleveland).

In 2023, the Senators had a record of 51-10 (.836 win pct), winning the TCCAA Regular season Championship. It was their 5^th consecutive season with more than 50 wins. The Senators spent 4 weeks during the season ranked #1 in the nation by the NJCAA. 11 Senators were named 1^st or 2^nd team All-TCCAA. 15 Senators signed with 4-year schools, including 5 with Division I universities.
 
Coach Shelton is married to the former Stefanie Reynolds and they have one son, Dalton, and one daughter, Madison.

Season Wins/Losses Since 2014
2014: 43-18
2015: 57-12 (3^rd in Nation)
2016: 47-16
2017: 44-12
2018: 60-8 (National Runner-Up)
2019: 54-11 (3^rd in Nation)
2020: 20-7 (Covid Shortened)
2021: 61-7 (7^th in Nation)
2022: 60-7 (3^rd in Nation)
2023: 51-10