Auburn Diving Coach Jeff Shaffer Announces Retirement
Jeff Shaffer, who spent 24 seasons as the head diving coach at Auburn, announced his retirement on Monday.
Shaffer’s illustrious career brought copious honors back to the Plains. He coached seven individual NCAA champions, 27 SEC champions and divers who earned 108 All-Americans. Shaffer was part of the coaching staff that led the Tigers to 12 NCAA team titles and 18 SEC championships, combined between men’s and women’s competition.
“Auburn is and will continue to be an incredibly special place for me and my family,” Shaffer said in a university statement. “I appreciate the opportunity to have served the student-athletes and Auburn University these past 24 years. I’d like to thank all the divers and their families who put their trust and faith in me. I’d be remiss not to thank David Marsh for giving me the opportunity here on the Plains and making diving a key contribution to Auburn’s success. Lastly, I’d like to thank eight-time Olympic coach Ron O’Brien, who gave me my first professional coaching position and mentored me to become the coach that I am today.”
Shaffer was a two-time NCAA Diving Coach of the Year. He was honored as the SEC Diving Coach of the Year eight times, most recently in 2020.
Shaffer’s list of pupils is long and illustrious. It led to him coaching internationally, including for the United States at the 1994 and 1998 Goodwill Games and as the co-head coach of the 2005 World University Games. He was an assistant for the U.S. at the 1997 FINA World Cup, the 2003 World University Games and the 2004 Olympics in Athens, with Auburn standout Ceasar Garcia.
“Coach Shaffer has been the center point of Auburn Diving for the last 24 years,” swimming and diving head coach Ryan Wochomurka said. “We are incredibly appreciative of his dedication to this program, this university, and this community. Jeff has mentored Auburn men and women to SEC Championships, NCAA Championships and the Olympic Games. We look forward to Jeff and Jenny’s new journey and wish them the very best in their next chapter.”
“Coach Shaffer is synonymous with Auburn Diving, and his commitment to Auburn student-athletes is unmatched,” Auburn athletics director John Cohen said. “Jeff’s accomplishments will be forever engrained into the fabric of Auburn, and we wish him well in his retirement.”
