Lake Wales’ Shafer leaving program for Warner University

Call it an opportunity that was not sought out.

That is exactly what happened for Rod Shafer, who will be leaving the Lake Wales program once again to coach at the college level after over 20 years with the program in two different stints.

Earlier this week, Shafer announced to his team that he would accepting the position of head coach at Warner University, a position confirmed first by Football Scoop and further confirmed later by Lake Wales Athletic Director Marvin Pavy.

However, it took Shafer and Pavy by surprise in how this all played out.

“It took him by surprise. He did not go seeking that job,” Pavy said.

And the shock is only just setting for Pavy himself, losing a quality coach in Shafer that is hard to find these days.

“It’s devastating. He is a quality coach. You don’t find many like him. I am still very distraught,” Pavy said.

Pavy himself would like to make the move to hire a new head football coach before spring football starts in less than a month.

“We would like to get the new head coach in before spring football. We have most of the staff still there. I know of one coach that is going with him to Warner, but the rest of are in the school,” Pavy said.

However they may have to approach spring football without a new head coach.

“Unless we can get this new guy [new football coach] on board, but will have to approach May like we are going to be there without him, but we will try to get him on board as soon as possible,” Pavy said.

For now TaVaris Johnson will lead the Highlanders program as the Interim Head Coach.

As for someone inside the program possibly becoming the next head coach, Pavy said he is not opposed to it, but noting that no one has mentioned as of yet of throwing their name into the hat.

“I am not sure that anybody inside the program wants that position. We are all good coaches. I am not sure that someone wants to step in the position to be the head coach, but I am not opposed to that,” Pavy said.

Overall, Pavy would like to have a new head coach installed by Spring Football. He said he would likely take applications for two weeks, but noted that resumes are already flooding in for the position, something that indicates the interest for the job is very high.

From there, a committee will look over the resumes, something that will likely form quickly due to the amount of resumes already coming in for the position. And Shaffer will be part of that committee, Pavy noted.

The Highlanders finished the 2012 season as the District 5A-10 champion and finished 9-5 overall after falling in the state semifinals to eventual state champion, Plantation American Heritage.  The program loses only seven seniors, something that the new head coach will see as a big advantage going into the 2014 season.

2014 COACHES MOVING VAN: View the entire list of head coaching changes here

THE VARSITY MESSAGE BOARD: How do you feel about the changes coming to the Lake Wales program?