University of Connecticut Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach - Defensive Line
- Email:
- jzp26002@uconn.edu
Joe Schaefer joins the UConn football program as defensive line coach beginning with the 2026 season.
Schaefer spent two seasons with the Syracuse football program (2024-25), coaching defensive backs.
Ten different players recorded an interception for the Orange in Schaefer's first season, led by All-ACC selection Clarence Lewis, who also finished second in the conference in pass breakups. Safeties Alijah Clark, Duce Chestnut and Devin Grant were three of the top-four tacklers on the team in 2024, all producing 56-or-more tackles. Clark was invited to participate in the NFL Combine after his stellar season, while the other two returned for 2025.
In his second season with the program, numerous young players were forced into action after injuries marred the senior seasons for Grant and Chestnut. Freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. was named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Award, presented annually to the nation's top true freshman, and finished fourth in ACC Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Schaefer arrived at Syracuse after a two-year stint at Texas A&M, where he joined the staff ahead of the 2022 season and spent his final year coaching outside linebackers. Texas A&M ranked sixth in the SEC and finished the regular season 21st nationally in passing yards allowed, giving up 188.3 per game over the 12-game slate in 2023. Overall, the Aggies finished third in the conference and 19th nationally in total defense (316.2 ypg.).
The A&M defense was consistently in the backfield that season as well. The Aggies led the SEC and finished seventh nationally in sacks (3.23 per game) and were fifth nationally in tackles for loss (7.6 per game).
Prior to his time at Texas A&M, Schaefer served as the defensive coordinator at Youngstown State in 2020-21, where he also mentored the Penguins' safeties. Youngstown State finished No. 25 nationally in total defense and No. 11 in the nation in passing yards allowed in 2020.
Schaefer spent the 2018-19 campaigns at John Carroll University as the defensive coordinator. In his first season, the Blue Streaks' 5.19 sacks per game led Division III, and the team ranked 10th nationally in rushing defense. The next year, his team finished No. 8 in total defense and No. 4 in scoring defense.
The Parma, Ohio, native was the director of scouting at Iowa State for two seasons (2016-17). The Cyclones' 2017 recruiting class was the top-ranked class in school history.
Schaefer also served as a defensive quality control coach at Maryland (2016) and as head coach at his alma mater, Cleveland's Benedictine High School, where he won a state championship in 2014.
After earning first team Division III All-Ohio honors as a linebacker, Schaefer played at Bowling Green, where he was a three-year letterman and two-year starter for the Falcons. He recorded 44 tackles and four sacks in his final two seasons, helping Bowling Green to back-to-back GMAC Bowl appearances.
Schaefer earned his bachelor's degree from Bowling Green in 2009.
