Shak grew up in Jacksonville, Florida where he attended the Episcopal School of Jacksonville before enrolling at UNC in 2012 as a member of the Varsity Football team. During his four years in Chapel Hill he became an All-ACC Linebacker, SAAC Member, and Team Captain. Shak went on to spend a season with the Houston Texans before returning to Chapel Hill to serve as a Quality Control Analyst for the 2018 UNC Football team and begin his career in athletics.