Ducks Mourn Passing of Schaffeld
09/08/21 | General
Former UO lineman and assistant coach Joe Schaffeld participated in Rose Bowls as both a player and coach with the Ducks.
University of Oregon Athletics is mourning the loss earlier this week of Joe Schaffeld, a former player and assistant coach with the football program. Schaffeld passed away Monday.
A native of Vale, Oregon, Schaffeld was a lineman on the Ducks' 1957 team that played in the Rose Bowl. He began his career as an assistant coach with Oregon in 1974, spending 24 seasons as a UO assistant and helping the Ducks get back to Pasadena to cap the 1994 season.
After coaching in the local high school ranks, Schaffeld was hired by head coach Don Read as UO linebackers coach in 1974. He spent most of his career as an assistant helping head coach Rich Brooks lay the foundation for the success Oregon enjoys to this day, helping the program make its first postseason appearance in 26 years in the 1989 Independence Bowl before winning the Pac-10 and reaching the Rose Bowl in 1994.
"Other than Len Casanova, he was Mr. Oregon," Brooks said. "Every Oregon high school he went into, they all knew Joe – whether it was a secretary, the principal, a janitor or the head coach. He was obviously a major factor in my 18 years, coaching the defensive line and helping develop so many great players. At the end of the day he was just a good guy and great person, always having his players' best interest at heart. He may have been hard on them, but he absolutely loved them."
Following his coaching career, Schaffeld spent more than 20 years in a role with the Duck Athletic Fund. A father figure to the players he coached, Schaffeld is remembered by his fellow coaches, UO Athletics staff and fans he encountered for his warmth and compassion.
"No matter how long you knew Joe – could have been a year or 85 years – you felt like he was one of your best friends," said Neal Zoumboukos, a fellow UO assistant coach from 1980-97.
Schaffeld is memorialized by a trophy bearing his name that is awarded each year by the UO football program. It is given to the Ducks' top defensive lineman as chosen by coaches. A room in the football program's Hatfield-Dowlin Complex is named in his honor as well.
