He graduated from Cornell in 1986 with a degree in business management after leading the team to its first conference tournament championship in six years.

Schafer left his alma mater after the 1989–90 season, taking a similar position with the Western Michigan Broncos of the WCHA.

Schafer quickly returned the Big Red to prominence, winning the ECAC Hockey conference tournament his first two seasons back in Ithaca.

[4] Schafer has been credited as one of college hockey's premier defensive coaches as his teams consistently produce among the lowest goals allowed annually.

Schafer was named co-winner of the 2020 Spencer Penrose Award as Division I Coach of the Year with Brad Berry of University of North Dakota.