University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

Schafer continuously grew the Alaska Nanooks hockey program to what it is today during his seven-year tenure. Schafer was hired prior to the 1980-81 season and took charge of a program that was playing in its first year as a NCAA-sponsored team. After a four-year stint as a NCAA Division II team, Schafer guided the Nanooks through the NCAA Division I transition, which began in 1984. Schafer is still holds the program's highest winning percentage amongst coaches, as he holds a .505 mark.

During his seven-year tenure, Schafer posted a 105-97-3 record and guided the Nanooks to 20-or-more wins in a season four times. His best season came during the 1983-84 campaign, as Alaska captured a then-school-record 22 wins and made a NCAA Division II semifinal appearance in the program's final year at the Division II level.

The 1983-84 season also started a string of four-straight 20-or-more win seasons for Schafer and the Nanooks. He led Alaska into the NCAA Division I transition during the 1984-85 season and his team won an impressive 21 games in their first season as a Division I member. Schafer would go on to coach two more years for the Nanooks, winning 20 games in both seasons. He led the Nanooks to a remarkable 61 wins during his final three season, all of which came during the first three seasons in NCAA Division I for the program.