Shira received the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year award in 1970, the only season of his tenure in which his team finished with a winning percentage above .500.

He also served as the Mississippi State University athletic director, at first concurrent with his head coaching duties, and then as his sole responsibility until his death in 1976.

[4] Shira did not remain at West Point to graduate, however,[2] and the following year, he served as an assistant coach at Tennessee before moving on to a position at Mississippi State in 1952.

[8] Mississippi State posted a surprising six-win season in 1970, including a victory over their intrastate rival, Ole Miss.

[7] In 1972, having compiled a combined record of 16–45–2, Shira resigned as head coach to focus on his duties as athletic director.