(Story Courtesy of Texas Lutheran Sports Information Department)
SEGUIN, Texas -- Larry Schaffer, the all-time wins leader for Texas Lutheran Women's Soccer, is retiring after 40 seasons of coaching at the high school and collegiate level.
The SCAC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year for the 2021 Spring season concluded his tenth season as the Bulldogs head coach on Friday following the Fall 2021 SCAC Tournament Semifinals.
A statement from Coach Schaffer:
"I'm looking forward to retirement and spending more time with the grandkids on the boat at Canyon Lake. My 10 years at TLU have been very special and I thank Coach Bill Miller along with Dr. Dorsey and Dr. Cottrell for giving me the chance to be the Head Women's Soccer Coach. Coach Miller, the Coaching/Athletic Staff at TLU are like family and I will always cherish the great times we have had together. I would also like to give a special thank you to all the soccer players over the ten years that I have had the honor to coach. You are the Best! Go Dogs!"
Quotes on the retirement of coach Larry Schaffer:
Texas Lutheran Athletic Director Bill Miller
"Coach Larry Schaffer became the TLU Women's Soccer Coach at a time when we barely had enough women to play. He made an immediate impact by basically rebuilding the TLU Women's Soccer Program. We no longer had to worry about not having enough players to compete. His recruiting ability substantially increased our participation level in women's soccer. In his ten years as the head women's soccer coach, Coach Schaffer led the TLU Women's Soccer Team to three SCAC Women's Soccer Championship games and along the way became the winningest women's soccer coach in TLU history. I can't thank Coach Schaffer enough for his commitment to TLU and to the TLU Women's Soccer Program. We wish him all of the best in his retirement. It is well deserved."
Texas Lutheran President Debbie Cottrell
"I'm grateful for the time and energy Coach Schaffer has provided as TLU's women's soccer coach and the role he has had within our athletics program. I wish him all the best as he moves into this next chapter."
LARRY SCHAFFER'S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
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40 seasons as a coach, with head coaching stints at Smithson Valley, San Antonio Roosevelt, San Antonio Churchill, and New Braunfels High Schools prior to accepting the head coach position at TLU
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Winningest Coach in TLU Women's Soccer History with 82 wins
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2021 SCAC Coach of the Year (Spring Season)
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3 SCAC Conference Championship Appearances
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Coached in four Texas High School State Tournaments and eight Texas High School regional tournaments. Winning 12 district championships and more than 350 high school matches.
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Schaffer won a pair of Class 5A State Championships in boys soccer with San Antonio Churchill (1998, 2001)
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2x finalist for NSCAA National High School Coach of the Year
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2x winner of an NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year Award
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2x NSCAA Texas High School Coach of the Year
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2x San Antonio Express-News Coach of the Year.
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4x Texas High School Coaches Association Region 4 Coach of the Year.
THE SCHAFFER RECORD
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Record at TLU: 82-76-19, 10 seasons at TLU (.463); 52-45-12 conference record in ASC (one year), SCAC (.477)
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Over 350 wins at the high school level
