HAMILTON, N.Y. - Paul Shaffner P'20, who served as Colgate's defensive coordinator from 2013-21, has announced his retirement from Colgate. 

Colgate had a superb finish to the 2021 season, claiming sole possession of second place with a 5-1 Patriot League record, defying the preseason rankings, which predicted the Raiders to finish last in the league. 

The Raiders saw four student-athletes named to the All-League defensive team this past fall. Seniors William Gruber and Milton Braasch II earned First Team All-Patriot League honors — Gruber as both a defensive back and a return specialist and Braasch as a linebacker — while sophomore K2 Dickens earned a nod on the Second Team Defense as a defensive lineman.
 
In 2018, Colgate put together 10 wins for just the fourth time in program history en route to its 10th Patriot League championship. The Raiders got there by compiling an amazing near-perfect defensive run over their first nine games.
 
Colgate, in streaking to 9-0, allowed just 29 points during that span and tied the NCAA FCS record with five shutouts in one season. Over a seven-game stretch, Colgate allowed 3, 0, 0, 3, 0, 0 and 0 points.
 
The Raiders knocked off James Madison 23-20 on a game-ending field goal in the first home playoff contest since 2003. Colgate then fell to eventual national champion North Dakota State in the quarterfinal round.
 
In 2017, Colgate's defense helped the program win a Patriot League title by allowing 17.5 points per game for what was then its lowest figure in 36 years. The Raiders did not allow a touchdown over the season's final 15 quarters, and Colgate led the Patriot League in rushing defense, scoring defense and interceptions. Their interception total of 16 ranked seventh nationally and was the program's highest number of picks since 2005.

In 2016, the Raiders led the nation and the Patriot League and set a Colgate Football record by allowing just 69.4 rushing yards per game. They were second nationally in sacks with 34 and also led the conference in tackles-for-loss with 74.

New York and Patriot League Experience
Shaffner grew up and played his high school football in the Buffalo suburb of Lancaster before then playing collegiately at Ithaca, helping the Bombers to the 1979 NCAA Division III National Championship. Before graduating in 1982, Shaffner received the Sebring Scholar-Athlete distinction for highest GPA on the football team and was a senior-year captain.

In October 2014, Shaffner and his Bomber squad-mates were inducted as a team of distinction into the Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame.

He earned his master's degree during a fifth playing season at Ithaca before entering the coaching ranks at Division III Maine Maritime. He then took a position as a graduate assistant coach at Penn State from 1986-88. The Nittany Lions were 1986 national champions thanks to a perfect 12-0 record. Shaffner moved to Lafayette in 1988, helping to guide the Leopards to three conference titles during a 12-season stint. 

Shaffner advanced into the head coaching ranks first at Glenville State in West Virginia and then back home at Buffalo State. Glenville won a conference title during his 2000-03 stay and Shaffner was named WVIAC Coach of the Year. At Buffalo State from 2004-08, Shaffner coached 38 players to All-Conference honors.