Recruits: Pennsylvania (814), New York (Section 5/6), Canada, West Virginia
Paul Shaffner P’20 and his Colgate defensive units keep getting better and better. And better.
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 run of near-perfection 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.
Shaffner’s defenders led the nation in scoring defense at 9.3, total defense at 237.7 and pass efficiency defense with an 88.77 rating. They also finished first in yards per play allowed at 3.85. This despite the fact that the Raiders finished their season against arguably the toughest three-game stretch in program history in Army, James Madison and North Dakota State.
Linebacker T.J. Holl earned All-America First Team honors from the AFCA and also was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. The senior class led by Holl engineered a combined 31-16 overall record during its four years and an amazing 21-3 mark against Patriot League competition. That resulted in three conference titles, three NCAA playoff victories and two trips to the FCS quarterfinals.
In 2017, Colgate's defense helped the program 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.
Colgate topped the Patriot League that year in total defense (344.1), fewest rushing TDs allowed (five), fewest first downs allowed (17.2), opponent third-down conversion percentage (31.8) and fourth-down percentage (45.5). The rushing TD figure also led the nation and the first downs allowed tied for second.
Shaffner brought New York and Patriot League experience with him to Hamilton when he was named Colgate's defensive coordinator in June 2013.
He 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. As defensive coordinator, his units consistently ranked at the top of the Patriot League.
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.
Shaffner is married to the former Donna Lueckenbach of Milwaukee. Donna is a board member of the American Football Coaches Wives Association and a past president. They are the parents of three children: Jessica, a Dickinson College graduate who now works at Syracuse University; Samantha, a William Smith College graduate who is now a graduate student at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York; and Jake '20, who played four years for the Raiders as a Colgate football student-athlete.
