Scott Shafer, who is recognized as one of the top defensive minds in
college football, is taking the reins of the Syracuse University’s football
program as head coach. The Orange defensive coordinator for the past four years,
Shafer has a 22-year history coaching in the collegiate ranks. He has mentored
four All-Americans and 32 all-conference selections, including 10 All-BIG EAST
performers at Syracuse. His defenses are known for blitzing schemes and a
relentless pursuit of the football. Shafer replaces Doug Marrone, who was named
the head coach of the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills yesterday.
“I look forward to representing the hard-nosed city of Syracuse and the great
state of New York as the head coach of Syracuse University,” Shafer said. “We
will go to work every day to put a quality product on the field as we storm our
way into the Atlantic Coast Conference. We are very motivated to start preparing
for the 2013 campaign with our current team and incoming
student-athletes.”
Shafer’s Syracuse defenses have ranked
among the nation’s best in various categories during his four-year tenure,
including the 2012 unit that ranked sixth nationally in tackles for a loss. In
2009, Shafer’s defense ranked 37th in the country after having been 114th in
2008. The unit also improved dramatically in first downs allowed, ranking 27th
(from 104th), sacks (sixth from 100th), and third-down defense (28th
from 117th). The next year the Orange defense was No. 7 in the nation and Shafer
was nominated for the AFCA National Assistant Coach of the Year and the Broyles
Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.
“Scott Shafer is an experienced,
intelligent, motivating coach who has dedicated his life to coaching and
developing college student-athletes,” said Syracuse Director of Athletics Dr.
Daryl Gross. “I can't think of a coach in America who is more deserving of
having an opportunity to be a head coach. His commitment to developing the total
student-athlete is unmatched. We have all seen the attitude of his defense which
consists of unity, toughness and persistence. I know and trust Coach Shafer will
enhance the momentum that has been created in the program. He is a brilliant
coach, a tireless worker and a relentless recruiter who believes that we can
create a sustainable championship culture. I am convinced Coach Shafer will
successfully carry the torch of the Syracuse football legacy.”
“Coach Scott Shafer has been an important factor in why the winning tradition
has returned to our program,” said Chairman of the SU Board of Trustees Richard
L. Thompson and SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor in a joint statement.
“He has the vision, commitment, and energy necessary for our team to be
successful on the field and for our student-athletes to succeed off-the-field,
both academically and personally. As we continue to strengthen the program, his
outstanding abilities, developed over 20 years of coaching, make him the right
leader to build on Syracuse Football’s strong momentum in the years ahead. We
congratulate Dr. Daryl Gross who undertook a swift, intensive search process
that identified the right candidate – while ensuring stability, continuity, and
quality in our football program.”
Many of Shafer’s players have
continued their career in the National Football League, including Syracuse
standouts Chandler and Arthur Jones, Doug Hogue and Phillip Thomas, Western
Michigan’s E.J. Biggers and Louis Delmas, Illinois’ Kelvin Hayden and Michgian’s
Morgan Trent.
Prior to coming to Syracuse, Shafer climbed the coaching ranks with stops at
Indiana University (graduate assistant, 1991-92), the University of Rhode Island
(secondary, 1993-95), Northern Illinois University (defensive
coordinator/defensive backs, 1996-2003), the University of Illinois (defensive
backs, 2004), Western Michigan(defensive coordinator/defensive backs, 2005-06),
Stanford (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator, 2007), and the University
of Michigan (defensive coordinator, 2008).
At Rhode Island, Shafer helped lead the Rams to the New England Division title.
The success continued at Northern Illinois, where the Huskies ranked third
nationally in interceptions (23). His 2002 unit led the MAC in every defensive
category.
During Shafer’s two years at Western Michigan, he played a key role in one of
the biggest turnarounds in Broncos history, as the team went from 1-11 the year
prior to his arrival to 7-4 in 2005 and 8-4 in 2006. Shafer’s 2006 defensive
group led the nation in interceptions (24) and sacks (46), and finished sixth in
run defense, seventh in turnover margin, 11th in total defense, and 14th in
opponent third-down conversions. That unit also set a Mid-American Conference
record for fewest rushing yards allowed per game (76.1 ypg). He was again
nominated for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.
At Stanford, the Cardinal defense improved in every NCAA statistical defensive
category from the previous season.
Shafer played quarterback and was a team captain at Baldwin-Wallace College from
1986 to 1989. He directed the Yellow Jackets offense that ranked 17th nationally
in pass efficiency. He began his collegiate playing career at Ohio University in
1985.
A
native of Painesville, Ohio, Shafer earned his undergraduate degree in education
from Baldwin-Wallace in 1990 and his Master’s degree from Indiana University in
1993. He and his wife, Missy, have a son, Wolfgang, and a daughter,
Elsa.
THOUGHTS ON
COACH SCOTT SHAFER FROM AROUND COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL
FOOTBALL
Jim
Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers Head Coach (2011-present); Stanford University
Head Coach (2007-10)
“I am excited about
the tremendous opportunity for Coach Shafer and Syracuse University. Scott is
hard working, enthusiastic and of high character. Great things will happen with
Shafe. He and his family will continue the rich and great Syracuse
tradition.”
Doug
Marrone ’91, Buffalo Bills Head Coach (2013-present); Syracuse University Head
Coach (2009-12)
“As a Syracuse
letterwinner, I am proud to have Scott Shafer leading the football program. He
is a person of high integrity who cares about the student-athletes and their
development on and off the field. Scott has proven his expertise as a defensive
coordinator and is ready to lead the program. I wish him all the best as the
head coach of the Orange.”
David
Shaw, Stanford University Head Coach (2011-present); Stanford Offensive
Coordinator (2007-10)
“Scott Shafer
brings enthusiasm to teaching young men to be excited about the game of football
and play it the right way. He is going to make it an environment that’s fun to
be in – the coaches are going to love to come to work every day and the players
are going to love to come to practice every day. I think the results of that
will show when people are watching the games, the team and their unity. They
will know that it starts from the top. It will be an exciting, fun environment
for everyone.
“Coach Shafer
believes in keeping it simple, having guys play fast and with a lot of emotion.
I think that’s what you’re going to see even more of as Syracuse continues to
grow and take those next steps. Everything is about passion and enjoying the
game, the camaraderie and guys playing together. That is what Scott’s about and
I think it’s going to transfer onto the field.”
Bill
Mallory, Indiana Head Coach (1984-96)
“Syracuse is
getting a person who has been right there in the program and has been very
involved in the improvement and success the program has seen. He is a smart,
sharp individual who handles himself in a classy fashion, and stands for the
right reasons. That is what you want. That goes into winning. That is the
process.
“Syracuse fans
should be very pleased and excited. Scott is what you want to see; he is
character. He is an excellent people person, a great communicator. He is a very
caring individual, which I think is so essential in coaching these young men. As
the fans get to know him better, they will realize that you aren’t going to find
a more class individual. If I was an AD, he would be the kind of guy I’d want
running my program because he’s a winner and does the things you want to
see.”
Joe Novak,
Northern Illinois Head Coach (1996-2007)
“Scott was one of
my first hires when I got the head job at Northern Illinois. He has some fire to
him, which is always good for a good football coach. The kids love him. He's
excitable. He's enthusiastic. The players have always loved him and loved being
coached by him. He'll get after them, but he'll also hug them up too. I think
that's an important quality in a coach to be able to do both of those things.
His enthusiasm will carry over to the fan base. I think he'll do a good job of
continuing what Coach Marrone has done up there.
“One thing unique
about Scott is that he was a quarterback in college. He spent a lot of time on
the offensive side as a player and when he got into coaching, he got on the
defensive side of the ball. That's unique in our profession. Most coaches are
either offensive or defensive orientated, but Scott has great exposure on both
sides of the ball. I think that's what helped him become a great football
coach.”
