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Shafer's defense during his one campaign on The Farm was known for its aggressive style, which led to the Cardinal being ranked third in the Pac-10 in both sacks (37, 3.69 per game) and tackles for loss (101, 9.38 per game), as well as well as fifth nationally in sacks and 11th in tackles for loss. Both numbers were the team's highest since the 1999 season when the Cardinal qualified for an appearance in the 2000 Rose Bowl.
Shafer spent the previous two seasons in 2005 and 2006 as the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, where he led a defensive unit that ranked among the best in the nation. Shafer, a 1990 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace, was the defensive coordinator while also coaching defensive backs.
At Western Michigan, he helped the Broncos register the biggest turnaround in MAC history. Western Michigan was 1-10 the year before he arrived, then went 7-4 in 2005 and 8-5 in 2006. Shafer's defensive unit was a large part of WMU's success.
In 2006, Shafer spearheaded a defensive group that ranked first in the nation in interceptions (24) and sacks (46), sixth in run defense, seventh in turnover margin and 11th in total defense. His defense included linebacker Ameer Ismail, the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and a Second Team All-American, and All-MAC defensive back London Fryar.
The Broncos' rush defense (76.1 ypg) in 2006 set a MAC record for fewest rushing yards allowed per game. Shafer was a nominee for the Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the nation.
In his first season at Western Michigan, Shafer's defense was a major reason why the Broncos were able to turn a 1-10 team into a 7-4 club. His defense, led by All-MAC defensive back Louis Delmas, recorded 13 forced fumbles and 15 interceptions.
During his career, he has also coached at Illinois, Northern Illinois, Rhode Island and Indiana.
Shafer was the secondary coach at Illinois in 2004 under head coach Ron Turner prior to moving to Western Michigan. While in Champaign, he coached cornerback Kelvin Hayden, who led the Big Ten in interceptions and was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft.
Shafer had coached at Northern Illinois for eight seasons (1996-2003), including the last four as defensive coordinator. He was also the defensive backs coach during his entire tenure in DeKalb, Ill. As defensive coordinator, Shafer's unit was a driving force in the Huskies going 30-16 and winning two MAC West Division championships (2001, '02) during his four seasons in the role.
Throughout his career at NIU, Shafer's players earned 13 All-MAC selections. During the 2003 season, Northern Illinois was ranked as high as No. 12 in the AP poll, recorded its first 10-win season in 20 years, and had three victories over BCS teams while holding them to an average of 15 points per game.
NIU also led the nation in interceptions with 23 in 2003 and had five defensive players named to the All-MAC team. In 2002, Shafer's defense led the conference in interceptions, takeaways, sacks, scoring defense and run defense.
He spent three seasons (1993-95) as the defensive backs coach at Rhode Island after beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Indiana under head coach Bill Mallory in 1991 and '92.
Shafer played quarterback at Ohio University in 1985, then completed his collegiate career at Baldwin-Wallace from 1986-90. In 1987, he was ranked 17th in the nation in passing efficiency and earned team MVP honors. He earned a Bachelor's degree in education from Baldwin-Wallace in 1990 and a Masters degree in education from Indiana in 1993.
A native of Painesville, Ohio, Shafer and his wife, Missy, have a son, Wolfgang, and a daughter, Elsa.
Last Updated: January 11, 2008