Monday, March 10, 2014

D2 Notes: Concordia-St. Paul Hires New OC

By: Josh Deer,
Concordia-St. Paul
Assistant AD, Communications
 
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Concordia-St. Paul head football coach Ryan Williams has announced the hiring of Mike Shafer as offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.

Shafer joins the Concordia football staff after three years as offensive line coach at Northern State University, a Northern Sun (NSIC) member. He had also spent 10 seasons as an offensive assistant at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS).

"I could not be more excited to hire Mike Shafer," explained Williams. "He possesses all of the qualities I was looking for in the position: he's well-rounded, experienced, has coached every position, has coordinating experience, can coach offensive line at a high level, has conference familiarity, and has dealt with all recruiting experiences. Most importantly, he is a great person."

While at Northern State, the Wolves finished 4-2, 5-2 and 3-4 in the NSIC North Division in his three years as he coached six All-NSIC offensive linemen.

"I am very excited to join the Concordia football program," said Shafer. "I have followed them for the last five years and have always been impressed with the type of team that shows up on the field. I look forward to bringing excitement and adding additional offensive schemes to an offense that can be very explosive."

"I have known Coach Williams for a long time and was very impressed with the way he approached me for the hiring of this position," Shafer continued. "The football staff here at Concordia is fantastic. I can't wait to start working with them and move the Golden Bears to the next level."

Shafer's experience at NDSCS grew from an offensive assistant to five years as offensive coordinator before being named assistant head coach for the Wildcats in his final four seasons with the program. While with the Wildcats, Shafer worked with the special teams, wide receivers, quarterbacks & running backs, offensive line and passing game coordinator before earning the offensive coordinator position.

In his final season with the Wildcats in 2010, the offense ranked 23rd in the nation under Shafer as it racked up 371.4 yards per game while averaging 6.0 yards per play and 33.9 points per game.

In Shafer's four years as assistant head coach at NDSCS, he developed 10 players into Division I signees. He coached or recruited nine All-Americans and 42 All-Region players in his tenure at NDSCS.

The Bismarck, N.D. native played collegiately at North Dakota State University and the University of Mary. While at U-Mary, Shafer was an All-Conference running back before graduating in 1999. He also earned a master's degree from NDSU in 2007.

Mike and his wife Jennifer have one son, Payton.
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