Shawn Stiffler
Stiffler in 2014
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamNotre Dame
ConferenceACC
Record30–24
Biographical details
Born (1979-04-02) April 2, 1979
Alma materGeorge Mason University
Playing career
1998–2001George Mason Patriots
Position(s)Pitcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2002–2006George Mason (asst.)
2007–2012VCU (asst.)
2012–2022VCU
2023–presentNotre Dame
Head coaching record
Overall382–231
TournamentsNCAA: 6–7
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • NCAA Regional: 2015
  • 4× A-10 Tournament: 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022
Awards
  • A-10 Coach of the Year (2019)

Shawn Stiffler (born April 2, 1979) is an American college baseball coach and former pitcher, who is the current head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He played college baseball for the George Mason Patriots from 1998 to 2001 under head coach Bill Brown. Stiffler had been a part of the Rams baseball program since 2007, where he spent the first 5 seasons as an assistant to Paul Keyes.

Playing career

Stiffler played high school baseball from 1994–1997 at Somerset Area High School, in Somerset, Pennsylvania[1] where he earned All-American honors as a pitcher.[2] He was drafted in the 53rd round by the Minnesota Twins in the 1997 MLB Draft,[3] but elected instead to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level, joining the George Mason Patriots baseball team.[4]

Coaching career

Immediately following his career with George Mason, Stiffler was picked up as an assistant for the George Mason Patriots baseball program. He worked the first two years as the number two assistant before being promoted to the head assistant for the 2004 season.[2] Stiffler was hired as the Virginia Commonwealth's (VCU) pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. As a recruiter for VCU, Stiffler recruited 15 eventual Major League Baseball draft picks. He would serve the role as a recruiter and pitching coach until 2007, where he was promoted to an assistant. In Stiffler's first season as an assistant, the Rams would boast one of their strongest campaigns in program history, winning 27 games and the 2007 CAA tournament.

On April 11, 2012, Stiffler was named the head coach on an interim basis when Paul Keyes stepped down to health reasons.[5] Stiffler finished the 2012 season out with a 12–9 record, and in December 2012 was promoted to head coach on a full-time basis.[6]

In 2015, Stiffler led his team to the best season in school history. The Rams finished 40–25 overall with Stiffler leading the team to their first NCAA Division I Super Regional appearance, being recognized by both the NCBWA and Collegiate Baseball Coach of the Year.[7]

On July 12, 2022, it was reported that Shawn Stiffler is being hired to be the next head baseball coach at the University of Notre Dame.

Heading coaching record

Below is a table of Stiffler's yearly records as an NCAA head baseball coach.[8]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
VCU Rams (Colonial Athletic Association) (2012)
2012 VCU 12–9[lower-alpha 1]8–95thCAA tournament[lower-alpha 2]
VCU Rams (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2013–2022)
2013 VCU 28–2612–12t-8th
2014 VCU 37–2015–104thAtlantic 10 tournament
2015 VCU 40–2514–10t-4thNCAA Super Regional
2016 VCU 38–1917-92ndAtlantic 10 tournament
2017 VCU 35–2221-71stAtlantic 10 tournament
2018 VCU 34–2314-10t-5thAtlantic 10 tournament
2019 VCU 39–1919–51stAtlantic 10 tournament
2020 VCU 9–80–0Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 VCU 38–1613–31st (South)NCAA Regional
2022 VCU 42–2019–52ndNCAA Regional
VCU: 352–207152–80
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2023–present)
2023 Notre Dame 30–2415–154th (Atlantic)
Notre Dame: 30–2415–15
Total:382–231

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

  1. ↑ Took over on an interim basis during the 2012 season.[9]
  2. ↑ 6 of the CAA's 11 teams qualified for the tournament.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mike Mastovich (July 9, 2015). "Somerset grad Shawn Stiffler honored as coach of the year". www.tridem.com. The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Stiffler Named Top Assistant on Baseball staff". www.gomason.com. George Mason University. October 27, 2003. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  3. ↑ "1997 Baseball Draft by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Baseball-Almanac, Inc. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ "44 Shawn Stiffler Bio". George Mason University Athletics. GoMason.gom. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Keyes to Take Medical Leave of Absence". www.collegebaseballinsider.com. College Baseball Insider. April 11, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  6. ↑ Bruce Wells (February 26, 2013). "VCU roster a mix of old and new". www.richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  7. ↑ Chip Brierre (July 8, 2015). "VCU baseball coach Shawn Stiffler earns Coach of the Year honor". www.wric.com. Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ "2012 Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Standings". D1Baseball.com. Jeremy Mills. Archived from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  9. ↑ Swing, Jim (November 4, 2012). "Keyes leaves behind lasting legacy at VCU". The Commonwealth Times. CommonwealthTimes.com. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
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