Schaeffer named NAIA regional coach of the year

Caleb Schaeffer was a championship wrestler for Columbia Falls High School. Now he’s a top coach.

Schaeffer was recently named the NAIA West Regional Coach of the Year for leading the University of Great Falls to its third western regional title.

Schaeffer grew up in Columbia Falls and went 33-0 in his senior year en route to a state Class A title. In college, he wrestled for Montana State University-Northern, where he had a 164-32 record and was the 2004 NAIA national champion at 133 pounds.

He’s been the head coach at the University of Great Falls for six years and was an assistant coach three years prior to that. It’s a full time job that sees him traveling the West recruiting for the program when he’s not coaching.

“Recruiting is the name of the game,” he said.

The UGF team is gearing up for the NAIA national tournament this weekend in Des Moines, Iowa.

Schaeffer and his wife Marianne have a four-month older daughter, Jada. He said he still wrestles with guys as he coaches, but only up to a point.

“I stay away from the upperclassmen,” he joked.