Bill Shaffer fell in love with the pool as a youngster, swimming for the Carrollwood Village club team.
That love carried over to his days as a member of the Chamberlain Chiefs swim team and then Temple University.
Shaffer’s sustained his passion for swimming as Jesuit High’s swim coach. For 20 years, he’s been a man for others, helping the Tigers grow into one of the top swim programs in the state.
How does one sustain a successful coaching career for two decades? If you’re Coach Shaffer, you do what you know and what you love.
“I just wanted to give back to the sport that gave so much to me,” Shaffer said. “It's a passion of mine, just try to make the swimmers better people. It's the best way I can help others. “
Eight years ago, Shaffer also took over the Academy of the Holy Names program while former coach Mara Schultz battled breast cancer. Shultz succumbed to the disease in 2010. He produced results for the Jaguars as well, including a pair of relay state champs.
But it’s more than success for Shaffer. He has a simple secret on why he’s been able to sustain this kind of longevity.
“I'm a kid. I refuse to grow up,” he said. “That's how you do it. You stay young, remember what you went through, constantly remind yourself what you went through and try not to make them hate the sport.
“You want them to love it for life.”
Click on the video to see Coach Shaffer at work.