Matt Schaeffer joins the Florida SouthWestern coaching staff in 2022 as the Bucs Pitching Coach. No stranger to the NJCAA thanks to his time as both a player and a coach, Schaeffer returns after a two-year hiatus with the birth of his son. Previously, Schaeffer served as Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator for South Florida State College from 2017 to 2020. 

During his time with the Panthers, Schaeffer helped South Florida State reach team-high win and strikeout totals in just his first year. He improved the team ERA from 5.34 to 2.98 in 2020. In his three seasons with South Florida, Schaeffer helped 31 players continue their pursuit of collegiate athletics across all levels. He coached six all-conference players, including one all-state first team recipient. In the shortened 2020 season, Schaeffer’s pitching staff was fourth in the state in ERA, shutouts, and seventh in strikeouts. 

Schaeffer served as Head Coach in collegiate summer baseball, including the New Market Rebels of the Valley League and the Palm Beach Diamond Ducks of the South Florida Collegiate League. In 2018, Schaeffer’s Diamond Ducks squad captured their first North Division Title with a league-high 14 SFCBL All-Stars; three of which would receive first-team honors. In 2019, Schaeffer left his post in Palm Beach to head for the mountains of Virginia, where he would join the Valley League and take over for the New Market Rebels, who had just captured the VBL Championship under FSW Head Coach Zac Cole. In New Market, Schaeffer managed four VBL All-Stars, including one who would receive All-VBL Team honors.

Prior to beginning his coaching career, he began his playing career at Florida A&M University, where he was part of the only team in school history to earn a victory over top-ranked University of Florida. In 2015, he then transfered to Tallahassee Community College for his sophomore campaign, where put together a 4-1 record with six saves across 37.2 innings, including 3 decisions over the would-be NJCAA National Champion Northwest Florida State College. Schaeffer went on to finish his playing career at Appalachian State University where he served as a member of the Mountaineer bullpen. In 2017, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Communication.