Rochester expected to hire Isaac Shaffer as new football coach

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Isaac Shaffer will be the new football coach at Rochester, pending approval at Monday’s school board meeting.

If hired, Shaffer would replace his father Ron, who stepped down Nov. 6 after compiling a 39-13 record over five seasons.

Isaac Shaffer is a 2016 Lewis Cass grad who played collegiately at the University of Indianapolis. He has been on the Rochester coaching staff since 2021. He has been the JV coach and the varsity defensive coordinator.

Rochester was No. 2 in the state with a 7.5 defensive scoring average in 2025. The Zebras went 9-2 before a season-ending 42-14 loss to Eastbrook in the Class 2A, Sectional 36 semifinals Oct. 31.

Rochester had five shutouts in 2025 and 15 since Isaac Shaffer has been on staff.

Isaac Shaffer is an eighth grade match teacher at Rochester Middle School.

Other Rochester coaching moves

• Eric Backus will move from boys soccer coach to girls soccer coach. Backus spent the last three seasons as the boys soccer coach. Backus’ son Layne was on his coaching staff this fall, and his son Spencer is a senior who led the Zebras in goals this fall. Backus’ daughter Charlie will be a freshman next year.

• Jesse Atkinson will return for a second stint as girls tennis coach. He had previously served a nine-year stint. He would replace Adrian Paulik, who stepped down after three seasons last spring. Atkinson guided Rochester to back-to-back sectional titles in 2016 and 2017. They remain the only sectional titles in school history. Atkinson is a teacher at Rochester High School and the husband of assistant principal Lauri Atkinson.

The coaching hires are pending approval at Monday’s school board meeting.