SEGUIN, Texas -- Larry Schaffer, current head boys soccer coach at New Braunfels High School, has been named the new head women's soccer coach at Texas Lutheran University.

Bill Miller, TLU director of athletics, announced the hiring of Schaffer on Tuesday.

Schaffer will finish his high school coaching career at New Braunfels High School by coaching the 2012 boys high school season.

"I'm just excited about the challenge of coming to TLU," said Schaffer. "Not only do I have great respect for the university and for the staff, I am looking forward to that new challenge of coaching collegiate soccer and of working with the young women."

Schaffer's 2012 season with the New Braunfels boys soccer team will be his 30th season as a high school soccer coach. Schaffer started his high school coaching career at San Antonio McCollum in 1982 and moved to head coaching stints at Smithson Valley, San Antonio Roosevelt, San Antonio Churchill, and New Braunfels.

Schaffer won a pair of Class 5A State Championships in boys soccer with San Antonio Churchill. Schaffer and the Chargers won state titles in 1998 and in 2001.

"We are thrilled to have a soccer coach of the caliber of Larry Schaffer," said Miller. "Coach Schaffer is a proven winner and has had success with each program that he has touched. We are extremely pleased that he has accepted this position, and we look forward to his time as the leader of our women's soccer program."

Overall, Schaffer has coached in four Texas high school state tournaments and eight Texas high school regional tournaments. He has won 12 district championships and more than 300 high school matches.

Schaffer is a two-time finalist for NSCAA National High School Coach of the Year and a two-time winner of an NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year award.

Schaffer twice has been named NSCAA Texas High School Coach of the Year and San Antonio Express-News Coach of the Year. He is a four-time winner of the Texas High School Coaches Association Region 4 Coach of the Year.

Schaffer has worked and coached in club soccer since 2000. He has 11 years of girls club coaching experience. He also has coached boys club soccer teams. Schaffer has worked with Lions Futbol Club, Supras Soccer Club, Classics Elite, and Lonestar Soccer Club.

Schaffer and his wife of 22 years, Joy, have four children: Megan, twins Maggie and Melissa, and Tim. Megan and Maggie play collegiate soccer at Angelo State University, and Tim is a senior soccer player at New Braunfels High School.

Schaffer was born in Billings, Mont., but he spent the majority of his childhood and young adult years in Minneapolis, Minn. Schaffer has an associate's degree from Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) and a bachelor's degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Schaffer served as an assistant men's soccer coach at Bethany Lutheran College from 1979 to 1981.

-Courtesy Texas Lutheran University Sports Information Department