Shaw has been associated with coach Bob Hallberg since 1967 when Hallberg coached him at Kennedy High School. He attended Saint Xavier College, where he worked with the men's team as a student trainer and manager. His first coaching experience came during the 1976-77 season when he coached the Saint Xavier University women's basketball club team.

Shaw became an assistant coach at Chicago State University in 1978. Later, he was the assistant varsity boy's basketball coach at St. Laurence High School from 1983-85 and head varsity boy's basketball coach from 1985-90. From 1986-90, he coached local high school all-stars for Team Chicago in summer AAU tournaments. Shaw was also the assistant men's basketball coach for University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) from 1990-96.

Shaw is a graduate of Chicago State University (Ill.) with a bachelor of science degree in education and health. He is currently the dean of students at St. Laurence High School. He is a resident of Evergreen Park, Ill., where he lives with his wife, Mary, and their son, Robert.