Tim Schaffner begins his seventh season as Butler head coach and his 17th year overall with the Grizzlies. In addition to head coach, Schaffner is also the Grizzlies’ defensive coordinator.

Butler was 2-4 during the Spring 2021 COVID-19 season with two games canceled due to the pandemic. Butler had the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Year in Eddie Lewis.

In 2019, Butler won their first back to back bowl games since winning the NJCAA National Championships during the 2007 and 2008 title campaigns. Butler reached the 10-win plateau for the first time under head coach Tim Schaffner and the first since the 2012 season. Butler finished 10-3 on the season and tied for second in the Jayhawk Conference (5-2) behind Independence. The Grizzlies averaged 28.4 points per game offensively and 346.2 yards per game, 190 of which were earned on the ground. The Chaos Tempo defense held opposing offense to just 17.2 points per game and 251.8 yards per game. Brock Sturges was named First Team NJCAA All-American and 17 Grizzlies picked up KJCCC All-Conference honors. Butler finsihed No. 5 in the NJCAA final poll, their highest finish since the 2015 season.

In 2018, the Grizzlies finished the season 8-4 overall, third in the Jayhawk Conference and finished ranked No. 15 in the NJCAA poll. The capped off the season with a 34-30 victory over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in the Midwest Classic Bowl in Miami, OK, the Grizzlies first bowl win since 2011. The Butler offense scored 25.2 points per game while chalking up 314.9 yards per game while the defense held opponents to just 19.2 points per game and 289.8 total yards per game. Jacoby Jones was named Second Team NJCAA All-American and 12 players earned KJCCC All-Conference recognition.

During the 2017 season, Butler finished 8-3 overall, runner-up in the Jayhawk Conference and had a final ranking of 17th in the NJCAA poll. The Grizzlies had a league-high 20 players named to the All-Jayhawk Conference team. Butler led the NJCAA in pass defense (98.4 y/pg), as well as leading the league in points allowed (16.4) and total yards allowed (214.5) per game. The Grizzlies were a perfect 4-0 against NJCAA ranked opponents, giving Schaffner an overall record of 9-2 against ranked teams.

In 2016, Schaffner guided Butler to the Salt City Bowl against Eastern Arizona. The Grizzlies were ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation and finished the year at No. 17 – the 19th straight season that Butler has finished ranked in the final NJCAA poll. Butler had 10 All-Jayhawk Conference selections – including NJCAA All-American wide receiver C.J. Sims. Schaffner also became the second fastest coach in Grizzlies’ history to record 10 wins, matching former Butler coaches Tom Saia and Troy Morrell.

Schaffner led the Grizzlies to a 9-2 record and a No. 5 ranking in the final NJCAA poll during his first season as head coach. He guided Butler to its 15th Jayhawk Conference title in 18 seasons.

In 2015, Butler recorded four wins against top-15 ranked opponents, including a road victory over top-ranked Coffeyville, which vaulted the Grizzlies into the top spot in the NJCAA poll the following week. Butler had 22 All-KJCCC selections, including eight first-team players – both of which were conference highs. 

Since Schaffner’s arrival in 2005, Butler has an overall record of 125-25 (.833) – including a dominating .879 winning percentage (80-11) against Jayhawk Conference opponents. The Grizzlies won have nine conference titles and recorded back-to-back national championships (2007, 2008). Butler has made nine bowl appearances, including four national title games.

Under Schaffner, the Grizzlies have dominated conference foes and shut down opposing offenses. His “CHAOS TEMPO” brand of defense emphasizes fast, physical and swarming play that led the region in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense for seven straight years, while finishing in the top two in every other major defensive category during that time period.

Schaffner’s defenses have posted 23 shutouts in his 13 seasons – nearly two per year. Four of those shutouts came during the 2007 season, including three games in a row when the defense went more than 15 straight quarters without allowing a score of any kind.

In six of his 13 seasons as defensive coordinator, Schaffner’s defense allowed an average of less than 10 points per game, an astounding statistic in today’s score-happy college game. In 2013, Butler allowed just 11.2 points per contest – including five games in which the opponent scored seven points or less.

Schaffner has been especially successful at making good players great, as Butler has had five Region VI Defensive Players of the Year since 2006 and three NJCAA Defensive Players of the Year. They include Austin Panter (2006, Michigan), Markus White (2007, Florida State), Scott Smith (2009, Texas Tech), Cornellius Carradine (2010, Florida State) and Owen Williams (2013, Tennessee) . Schaffner has coached 18 All-Americans, including Williams in 2013, and has had nine former players go on to careers in professional football.

Schaffner came to Butler from Eastern Arizona, where he was the Defensive Coordinator. Schaffner also coached at Jayhawk rival Garden City. During his tenure at Garden City, 19 defensive backs signed with NCAA Division I programs.

Prior to coaching at Garden City, Schaffner was the head coach at Ranger College in Texas in 2000. He was also the Defensive Coordinator at New Mexico Military Institute. He began his coaching career at Eastern New Mexico. Schaffner also spent two years in England as the co-head coach Essex Buccaneers, leading them to the national championship game.

Schaffner was a four-year starter in football and baseball and an All-America defensive back at Westmar College. He holds a Master's in Athletic Administration and a Bachelor’s in Physical Education from Northwest Missouri State University, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Westmar College.

Schaffner is married to the former Holly Maupin. They are the parents of a daughter, Tommie, and a son, Brady.

The following is a statement from Schaffner:

“I am excited for the opportunity to stay at Butler as the leader of the football program. I’m excited and humbled by the challenges that lie ahead of us.

I am proud of the work we've done here and I look forward to carrying on the strong traditions that make Butler special. We will strive for us to maintain the integrity and class that has come to define this program over the past 17 years.

“I want to thank our president, Dr. Kim Krull, and the entire Butler community, Vice President Bill Rinkenbaugh and athletic director Todd Carter, for their support over the past 10 years and their confidence in me moving forward.

“I would also like to thank my wife Holly and all my family for their unwavering support during my career, not only at Butler but also in the years leading up to this great opportunity.

“I want to thank Troy Morrell for giving me the opportunity to join the Grizzly family 10 years ago. Without his influence and guidance, I would not be here today. He has been a great friend, a mentor and I have learned volumes from him. He will be missed each day and I hope we can continue to represent Butler Community College with the competitive fire and class that has come to define Troy and the entire Grizzly football program. 

“I also want to say thank you to Steve Braet for everything he's done over the past 30-plus years for this program, for me and for the hundreds, if not thousands, of players whose lives he's touched over the years. I am both blessed and honored to work alongside such a great man and I cannot imagine doing this job without him by my side. 

“Lastly, I want to thank the Grizzly players, both past and present, who have helped accomplish so much here at Butler. We will do our best to honor their achievements and uphold their legacy as we begin working towards the 2015 season and beyond.”

UPDATED: AUGUST 3, 2021