Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Shawn Chaffee was named the Defensive Line Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne in December 2019 and was elevated to the role of Co-Defensive Coordinator following the 2021 season. Chaffee came to LR after serving as the Defensive Line Coach at Notre Dame College for two seasons.He continued to climb the ranks, being named Defensive Coordinator in the spring of 2023. 

Chaffee coached DE Andre Jefferson to one of the best single-seasons in program history in 2022 en route to a Second Team All-American selection. Jefferson broke the single-game record with 5.5 sacks against Tusculum in the regular season finale in 2022 and finished the year with 15 sacks which ranked fourth in the nation. 

The defensive line was led by DT Amari Houston in 2021 as Chaffee coached the senior to SAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Houston finished the season with 49 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks to go with six QB hurries and two fumble recoveries. Fellow DT Dan Louba was named First Team All-Conference and tied a Lenoir-Rhyne single-game record with four sacks against Mars Hill. Chaffee's D-Line produced a third All-Conference selection in versatile Andre Jefferson who saw starts on the interior and DE spots to finish on the Second Team All-SAC. The defensive line helped Lenoir-Rhyne run its streak of consecutive games with at least one sack to 54 in a row. 

In his first year with the Bears, Chaffee helped a star-studded DL core reach new levels. The Bears recorded 10 sacks as a team in four spring games with 7.5 of those sacks coming from the front four. The defensive line is one of the deepest and strongest on the LR team under Chaffee’s watch. 

On top of what he has done on the field, Chaffee has made his mark at LR in the recruiting game. Chaffee has helped bring in a handful of standouts in his first two years on the job including LB Jon Ross Maye who led the team in tackles as a true freshman and was a Second Team All-Conference player in 2021. Additionally, Dwayne McGee provided an instant impact as he broke the single-season rushing record wth 1,669 yards in 2021, shattering a mark which stood since 1994. McGee would be named the SAC Offensive Player of the Year and SAC Freshman of the Year while going on to be named an All-American. 

Chaffee helped the Falcons to back-to-back MEC Championships and NCAA Playoff appearances. In 2018, the Falcons advanced to the NCAA Semifinal and captured a Region 1 Championship, and appeared in the NCAA Quarterfinals in 2019. 

Chaffee coached one of the best players in the nation and helped lead Sha’haun Williams to back-to-back All-American selections. In 2018, Williams led the nation with 20 sacks which ranks third in NCAA DII for a single season. Williams finished second in the nation with 24.5 tackles for loss and joined fellow DL Derrick Brumfield who each ranked fifth in forced fumbles with four apiece.  

Not to be outdone, Williams would go on to post 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 2019 to go with a team-high 10 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. 

Chaffee also coached 2018 MEC Defensive Freshman of the Year Jack Kosko. Kosko went on to be named Second Team All-Conference in 2019 and ranked in the top 10 in the league in sacks.