Perry Shockley graduated from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education.

During his senior year at Henderson State, he played on the basketball team that won the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) District 17 Tournament and continued on to the quarterfinals of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Tournament.

Perry also earned an associate’s degree in General Education at Garland Community College in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He graduated from RHEMA Bible Training Center in 1997 with an emphasis in missions.

In 1998, Shockley pioneered the RHEMA women’s basketball program, leading them to two consecutive National Bible College Athletic Association (NBCAA) national championships. In August of 2000, he was promoted to Athletic Director and men’s head basketball coach while continuing as the women’s head coach. In 2001, he guided both the men’s and women’s teams to NBCAA national championships. As the men’s coach, he has led RHEMA to five national titles.

Many changes in RHEMA’s athletic program have occurred since Shockley became Athletic Director. RHEMA has added a full-time Intramural Director and highly qualified head coaches for the new collegiate-level sports. Fundraising has increased through advertising and the RHEMA Golf Tournament, held each August. In addition, RHEMA athletes have increased their community outreach activities, and the RHEMA athletic program has joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The biggest change Shockley instituted was RHEMA’s acceptance into the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) in August of 2001. Acceptance into the USCAA gives RHEMA the opportunity for national exposure. RHEMA maintains its membership in the ACCA, which offers national tournaments in basketball, golf, and volleyball. But RHEMA’s membership in the USCAA means RHEMA athletes in all sports have the opportunity to qualify for national tournaments.
Shockley and his wife Carri, a 2004 graduate from the RHEMA’s School of Worship, live in Coweta. They have one daughter, Emma Nicole, who Shockley calls “his trophy, his champion.”