Coaches

John Shaffer

John Shaffer will enter his sixth season as the Mansfield University women's head soccer coach in 2023.


In January 2019 the Mansfield University Athletic Department Announced that it removed the interim tag from Shaffer.


He is just the second head coach of the Mountaineer program that was founded in 2002.


Prior to earning the full-time position, Shaffer was named interim head coach of the Mansfield University women's soccer program before the start of the 2018 season.


In 2021, a year removed from the COVID-19 Pandemic cancelled season, Shaffer led sophomore Taylar Luckenbill to All-PSAC Eastern Division Team Defensive Honors, ninth athlete to bring home All-Conference honors.


Luckenbill is the first Mountaineer to earn All-Conference honors since Delaney Meadows was named 3rd-Team forward in 2016. The sophomore is the first defender to land on the All-PSAC roster since Natalie Adams and Katie Parsnik were both placed on the second team in 2012. Luckenbill anchored the Mountaineer defense with her physicality, leadership and ability to stretch the field on deep free kicks.


Shaffer came to Mansfield University after serving as head coach of the boys’ soccer program at Wellsboro High School since 2010. Under his watch, Shaffer greatly enhanced the soccer program at Wellsboro and guided the Hornets to a District IV Championship and appearance in the Elite 8 of the PIAA State Tournament in 2017. He was named the NTL Coach of the Year following the 2013 season.


Shaffer also brings club coaching experience, training a variety of teams within the STN Northpenn organization for the past six years, including five years of coaching girls U13 – U18 teams. With STN, Shaffer created team training plans, assisted players in the college recruiting process, and served as the goalie specific coach for two years.


Shaffer received a bachelors of education from Kutztown University in 2007 and a masters of education from Edinboro University in 2011. He holds certificates from the NSCAA/United Soccer Coaches and earned a U.S. Soccer E License.