BOSTON – Simmons University Director of Athletics & Recreation Erica Schuling has announced that Tori Shaffer has been named as the next Head Field Hockey Coach. She will begin on June 1, 2023.
"From the moment I met Tori, I could tell she was a perfect fit for the culture of Simmons Athletics," says Schuling. "During the search process, she impressed the committee with her thoughtful responses and the student athletes could not be more excited. She is committed to developing student athletes that are competitive on the field and equally focused in the classroom. She will provide the necessary leadership to continue the success of the field hockey program while respecting its history and traditions. She demonstrated a continued desire to learn and grow within the profession and she surrounds herself with well-respected colleagues with a similar passion. I look forward to watching the Sharks under Tori's leadership."
A native of upstate New York, Shaffer comes to Simmons with extensive knowledge of the game of field hockey. For the last three years, she served as an assistant field hockey coach under Carly Sweeney at New England College. In the fall of 2022, she helped guide the program to its first NECC Championship Game appearance in program history. Additionally, Shaffer coached four NFHCA All-Region selections along with four NECC All-Conference honorees.
Shaffer also spent a year as the Director of Operations at The Lineup, a college coach co-op designed to be a talent ID event for collegiate field hockey. In 2022, she embarked on orchestrating a major Goalie Day event that featured over 130 goalies, 20 top coaches and 12 current collegiate goalies. In addition to organizing all registrations, she worked alongside world renowned goalie coach Emily Snowden to develop groups, and set up training stations.
"I am thankful to Athletic Director Erica Schuling and the search committee for giving me this opportunity to join the Simmons community and lead the field hockey program," says Shaffer. "I'm also grateful for all the coaches I have worked with and played for in my career for preparing me for this moment. This program is at a great place and I am excited to build on the strong foundation that currently exists."
Before arriving in Henniker, New Hampshire, Shaffer spent two years outside of the New England region, as an assistant coach at Sewanee: The University of the South. With the Tigers, she broke down film to help players hone the game's fundamentals, while also assisting players in their development on the field. Shaffer also played an integral role in the recruiting process for the Tigers, while also aiding in planning the team's yearly budget.
A four-year letter winner at St. Lawrence University, Shaffer graduated in the spring of 2018 with a degree in mathematics. In 50 career games with the Saints, she recorded 10 goals, including a pair of two-game winning goals. Away from the field, she served as a volunteer of "On My Team 16," an organization in Syracuse, N.Y. dedicated to supporting children with cancer.
After graduation, Shaffer spent a year interning with Division III's Northeast Athletic Conference (NEAC) before moving on to obtain her Master's at New England College.