Shawn Chaffee

Biography

Shawn Chaffee was named the Toledo linebackers coach in December of 2025, and will join Head Coach Mike Jacobs for their ninth season on the sidelines together in 2026. Chaffee oversaw the linebackers throughout his two seasons at Mercer, helping the defense to rank 11th in the country among all FBS institutions, allowing 110.2 yards/game. The Bears also ranked third in the country in team sacks (3.50) and fifth nationally in team tackles for loss (8.0). During the 2024 campaign. Chaffee’s linebackers helped the Mercer defense lead the FCS in five statistical categories: forced turnovers (34), passes intercepted (25), rushing defense (70.8 rushing yards/game), defensive touchdowns (eight) and sacks (3.29 sacks/game). Prior to his tenure at Mercer, Chaffee was the defensive coordinator at Lenoir-Rhyne from 2020-23. The Bears ranked among the NCAA Division II’s top total defenses, including a 2023 campaign where Lenoir-Rhyne held opponents to 258.5 yards (ninth in the NCAA) and 14.7 points (seventh) per game. Chaffee was the defensive line coach at Notre Dame (Ohio) from 2018-19 and helped lead the Falcons to a 25-3 record, two Mountain East Conference Championships and two NCAA postseason appearances, including the 2018 NCAA Semifinals. Chaffee served graduate assistant roles at three different schools, including a two-year stint as a defensive line and linebackers coach at Ball State throughout the 2016 and 2017 seasons. A three-year mainstay on the offensive and defensive li