Tim Schaffner named new Butler football head coach

January 7, 2015

After 10 successful years as Butler's defensive coordinator, Tim Schaffner takes the reigns of the tradition-laden program.

Schaffner, who has previous head coaching experience at the community college level before coming to Butler, replaces Troy Morrell, who resigned last month after 15 seasons and 154 wins. Schaffner will now work to put together his coaching staff, with further announcements to come.

"We are excited to name Tim Schaffner as our new head coach," Butler Athletic Director Todd Carter said. "It was 15 years ago when we promoted our offensive coordinator to be our head coach and the results speak for themselves. We believe that by promoting Tim, we will maintain the continuity that has seen our program dominate the Jayhawk Conference for the past 17 seasons."

Schaffner's "CHAOS TEMPO" brand of defense emphasizes fast, physical and swarming play that has led the region in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense for seven straight years, while finishing in the top two in every other major defensive category during that time period. In 2014, Butler led the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 21 points per game in conference play.

Butler has posted 22 shutouts under Schaffner's guidance. Four of those shutouts came during the 2007 season, including three games in a row when the defense went more than 15 straight quarters without allowing a score of any kind.

Schaffner has been especially successful at making good players great, as evidenced by the fact that Butler has had five Region VI Defensive Players of the Year since 2006 and three NJCAA Defensive Players of the Year. They include Austin Panter in 2006 (Michigan), Markus White in 2007 (Florida State), Scott Smith in 2009 (Texas Tech), Cornellius Carradine in 2010 (Florida State) and Owen Williams in 2013 (Tennessee). Schaffner has coached 18 All-Americans, including Williams in 2013, and has had six former players go on to careers in professional football.

Schaffner came to Butler from Eastern Arizona, where he was the Defensive Coordinator. Schaffner also coached at Jayhawk rival Garden City. During his tenure at Garden City, 19 defensive backs signed with NCAA Division I programs.

Prior to coaching at Garden City, Schaffner was the head coach at Ranger College in Texas in 2000. He was also the Defensive Coordinator at New Mexico Military Institute. He began his coaching career at Eastern New Mexico.

Schaffner also spent two years in England as the co-head coach Essex Buccaneers, leading them to the national championship game.

Schaffner was a four-year starter in football and baseball and an All-America defensive back at Westmar College. He holds a Master's in Athletic Administration and a Bachelor's in Physical Education from Northwest Missouri State University, as well as a Bachelor's Degree in English Education from Westmar College.

Schaffner is married to the former Holly Maupin. They are the parents of a daughter, Tommie, and a son, Brady.

The following is a statement from Schaffner:

"I am excited for the opportunity to stay at Butler as the leader of the football program. I'm excited and humbled by the challenges that lie ahead of us.

I am proud of the work we've done here and I look forward to carrying on the strong traditions that make Butler special. We will strive for us to maintain the integrity and class that has come to define this program over the past 17 years.

I want to thank our president, Dr. Kim Krull, and the entire Butler community, Vice President Bill Rinkenbaugh and athletic director Todd Carter, for their support over the past 10 years and their confidence in me moving forward.

I would also like to thank my wife Holly and all my family for their unwavering support during my career, not only at Butler but also in the years leading up to this great opportunity.

I want to thank Troy Morrell for giving me the opportunity to join the Grizzly family 10 years ago. Without his influence and guidance, I would not be here today. He has been a great friend, a mentor and I have learned volumes from him. He will be missed each day and I hope we can continue to represent Butler Community College with the competitive fire and class that has come to define Troy and the entire Grizzly football program.

I also want to say thank you to Steve Braet for everything he's done over the past 30-plus years for this program, for me and for the hundreds, if not thousands, of players whose lives he's touched over the years. I am both blessed and honored to work alongside such a great man and I cannot imagine doing this job without him by my side.

Lastly, I want to thank the Grizzly players, both past and present, who have helped accomplish so much here at Butler. We will do our best to honor their achievements and uphold their legacy as we begin working towards the 2015 season and beyond."