Growing up in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, Shoop played quarterback in high school, and continued his football career at Sewanee: The University of the South.
Shoop spent four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, where he began his NFL coaching career at the age of 25.
He was named offensive coordinator for the last four games of the 2000 season following incumbent Gary Crowton's departure for the head coaching position at Brigham Young University.
[5] In January 2007, Shoop left the Raiders to become the offensive coordinator of the North Carolina Tar Heels football team.
His dismissal from Purdue and his subsequent absence from coaching in college football have also been attributed to conflicts with athletic department administrators over player eligibility, concussion education and his support of a player unionization attempt at Northwestern and name, image and likeness (NIL) rights.