John Mothershed graduated from Sheffield High School in 1981 where he was a member of the football and wrestling teams. He was All-Area during his senior season in football and was a state runner-up wrestler in the 155 pound weight class. He graduated from the University of North Alabama in 1985.

While still in college he was an assistant wrestling coach at Sheffield in 1984 and then became an assistant football coach for the Bulldogs in 1985.

In 1987 he became the offensive and defensive line coach at Deshler High School and was named Defensive Coordinator the following year by Coach Tandy Gerald. When Coach Gerald retired in 1994, Mothershed was named the head coach.

Coach Mothershed had served as an assistant coach at Deshler for eight seasons before taking over the helm for the Tigers. In the past nineteen years his teams have amassed a record of 201-53 winning back-to-back State Championships in 1998 and 1999. The Tigers have reached the Super Six Championship game on five other occasions only to come up a little short in their quest for a title.

Since 1997, his teams have reached the third round of the playoffs in every season except three. Deshler has also won fourteen region titles and compiled a 102-13 region record during his term as the head football coach. The Tigers qualified for the playoffs in every season and scored in every game since 2000.

Mothershed stepped down at Deshler following the 2013 season.

Mothershed is a member of the Colbert County Sports Hall of Fame.