 When his playing career was over, he stayed with Aberdeen and took up a coaching role.Shaw was appointed coach by manager Dave Halliday, and was described by Bobby Wishart, the inside-forward in the league championship-winning side of 1954–55, as 'the secret ingredient' in the club's success.At the end of that championship season, Halliday left to take over as manager of Leicester, and Shaw was appointed manager in his place.