In the summer of 1990, my family and I embarked on an epic adventure across the United States from Ohio. We packed our bags and headed to Las Vegas, where my Dad had accepted a new coaching position at a school. Along the way, we made a pit stop in Truckee, California and luckily my Dad turned down the job and my Uncle John offered him a job with Shaffer Paving.
As my dad worked with him and transferred his credentials, he started coaching me in Pop Warner for 2 years. My freshman year was the only year he didn’t coach me, but I couldn’t tell because he would yell at me from the stands during the entire game! He got hired in my sophomore year in 1993 as a JV coach, and we won the league! I even won DPOY for our team.
In my junior and senior years, we went 10-2 on two great teams. Unfortunately, we lost both state championship games, which were super close. But I still got to end my senior year with a win at the Sertoma All-Star classic. I started the game and Dad coached us, so it was bittersweet. My senior year was also my dad’s first year as head coach. From then on, he coached for 18 more seasons doing ok winning 9 state championships and 3 runner-ups.
After college, I took my average talents to the College of the Redwoods near Humboldt. We had a stacked team, won our division, and even played in a bowl game. It was a lot of fun, but the scene wasn’t really for me, so I moved back home and started coaching. After a year, I went to Sierra College and played one more year. I started at defensive end and middle backer until a shoulder injury ended my hopes of going pro. Haha!
In 2000, I joined the JV coaching staff and had so much fun being around my dad, Dennis DeCoite, Jason Estabrook, Dow Higgenbotham, Bob Garrow, Nik Fertitta, and of course, The Josh Ivens. We had great teams and amazing memories from those years. But then, I met the love of my life, Allison, and we started Shaffer Sealing in 2005. The work was too time-consuming to coach, so I decided to take a break. Even though I wasn’t coaching anymore, I was always around the program. I’d help Dad stripe the fields, take pictures on the sidelines, and watch my younger brothers, Vince and Pat play some ball.
It was incredible to witness that amazing run from 2009 to 2012, with the 4-peat and the incredible 41-game win streak. I was so proud of my Dad and my brothers. After the heartbreaking and tragic loss of my Dad, I was overwhelmed by the impact he had not only on the athletes he coached but all he encountered. I made a promise to myself: if my son, Drake, ever played, I’d coach again and give him what my Dad gave me. So here we are, as the last Shaffer passes through this great program one last time, I look forward to being here for it.

GO WOLVERINES!!!!!