  The structure of the $^{44}$S nucleus has been studied at GANIL through the
one proton knock-out reaction from a $^{45}$Cl secondary beam at 42
A$\cdot$MeV. The $\gamma$ rays following the de-excitation of $^{44}$S were
detected in flight using the 70 BaF${_2}$ detectors of the Ch\^{a}teau de
Cristal array. An exhaustive $\gamma\gamma$-coincidence analysis allowed an
unambiguous construction of the level scheme up to an excitation energy of 3301
keV. The existence of the spherical 2$^+_2$ state is confirmed and three new
$\gamma$-ray transitions connecting the prolate deformed 2$^+_1$ level were
observed. Comparison of the experimental results to shell model calculations
further supports a prolate and spherical shape coexistence with a large mixing
of states built on the ground state band in $^{44}$S.
