PLNU Athletics

The 2018 season marks the 11th for coach Joe Schaefer at the helm of the PLNU baseball program. He has posted a record of 307-199-1 (.606 winning%) over his 10 seasons, including winning the GSAC regular season and postseason tournament titles in 2009, and reaching the NAIA World Series in both 2009 and 2010.  In fact, those two seasons under Schaefer were arguably the best campaigns in Point Loma baseball history.

Joe Schaefer Career

Year	School	Overall	Pct	Conf	Pct	Place	Postseason
2008	Point Loma	28-23	.549	20-16	.555	4
2009	Point Loma	45-13	.776	28-8	.777	1	Region II Playoffs
2010	Point Loma	41-20-1	.669	22-14	.611	3	Region II Playoffs
2011	Point Loma	28-22	.560	19-17	.527	5
2012	Point Loma	18-31	.367	10-22	.312	9
2013	Point Loma	26-24	.520	22-14	.611	4
2014	Point Loma	24-25	.490	15-17	.468	6
2015	Point Loma	33-18	.647	19-13	.593	5	NCAA West Regional
2016	Point Loma	32-16	.667	21-13	.617	4
2017	Point Loma	32-17	.653	23-13	.638	4

A multitude of Sea Lions have been named all-conference during Schaefer’s time at PLNU, and six of his players have been selected in the Major League First Year Player Draft (Kurt Steinhauer, Kaohi Downing, Steven Winnick, Chad Blauer and Ricky Gingras). The latest draft pick was Ryan Garcia who went to the Seattle Mariners in the 2017 draft. Numerous Sea Lions have also signed a free agent deals.

Last season, PLNU chased its second appearance in the NCAA West Regional down till the final weekend after going 32-17 in the regular season, and 23-13 in conference play. They won nine of their last 10 games, and placed fourth in the PacWest, but unfortunately did not hear their names called during the regional selection show. However, coach Schaefer collected his 300th career win during the season and saw Garcia, Kellen Sheppard and Stephen Young all earn multiple all-region selections.
 
The 2015 season was PLNU's best at the NCAA level as saw Schaefer's plan come fruition as the Sea Lions earned a spot in the West Regional. As PLNU entered the transition process to NCAA Division II Schaefer went heavy after high school seniors to comprise the recruiting classes and it paid off. Point Loma went 33-18 on the year which included a school-record 17-game winning streak. PLNU tied for third in the PacWest standings at 19-13 and reached as high as No. 3 in the NCAA West Region rankings. The Sea Lions also climbed up to No. 21 in the NCBWA rankings. Coleman Huntley III led NCAA Division II during the regular season with 13 saves en route to earning first team Daktronics All-West Region honors and a nomination for the Brett Tomko Pitcher of the Year award. Point Loma baseball also thrived in the classroom in 2015 with 21 Sea Lions earning PacWest All-Academic honors and the team posting a 3.14 GPA.
 
In perhaps Schaefer's best season, PLNU posted a 40-20-1 overall record in 2010. The Sea Lions lost to Cal Baptist in the GSAC tournament, but with a No. 17 ranking earned the team a NAIA Opening Round berth. The Green and Gold rolled to the championship of their bracket to punch their ticket to Lewiston, Idaho, for a chance to compete in the NAIA World Series. PLNU put together a superb showing with a third-place finish.
 
The 2009 season, Schaefer’s first at the helm, saw the PLNU baseball program one win away from a national title. The Sea Lions went 45-13, won the GSAC regular season and tournament championships and then swept through three Opening Round games of the NAIA National Championships to reach the World Series’ final site. PLNU stayed red-hot in Idaho, rolling off four consecutive wins and was one triumph away from a national title, but then lost twice to Lubbock Christian. PLNU's runner up finish, however, was the highest ever for the program and was the best that a GSAC squad had done up to that point in World Series play. Schaefer was named as the GSAC Coach of the Year. The year was capped off when Schaefer was announced as the American Baseball Coaches Association/Diamond Regional Coach of the Year – an honor he would also receive in 2010. 

Prior to taking over the PLNU baseball team in the summer of 2008, Schaefer spent the three years as associate or co-head coach, working alongside Jack Northam. During that time the Sea Lions posted a 125-79 overall record and qualified for the post season each year. Schaefer first joined the PLNU coaching staff in the 2003-2004 season and was instrumental in the team's six-year streak of winning at least 30 games and qualifying for the postseason. 

Before his coaching career began, Schaefer played at Point Loma for two years as a shortstop and relief pitcher. In his two seasons he compiled a 2-1 overall record with two saves and hit .296 with 39 RBI at the plate. He was named PLNU's top defensive player in 2002 and helped the team reach two Region II playoff berths, including an appearance in the Region II championship game in 2003. 

Prior to coming to PLNU, Schaefer was an all-conference shortstop at Saddleback College. Before that, he prepped at Servite HS in Anaheim, Calif., where he was a two-time All-League and All-Academic CIF selection, leading his team to three league titles and a national ranking of sixth. 

Schaefer earned his B.A. in philosophy/theology from PLNU in 2003 and his M.A. in human performance and sport from New Mexico Highlands University in 2006. In addition to his coaching duties, he is also an adjunct professor in the kinesiology department at PLNU. 

Joe lives in La Mesa with his wife, Cheryl, and their sons, Brayden, Riley and Cannon.


Joe Schaefer Instructional Baseball DVDs

Awards:
2009 GSAC Coach of the Year
2009 ABCA /Diamond Regional Coach of the Year
2010 ABCA /Diamond Regional Coach of the Year