BREAKING: Laramie Hires Jim Shaffer As New Boys Basketball Coach

After an extensive search for a new coach, Laramie High School has hired former Cheyenne South and Evanston Coach Jim Shaffer as its new boys' basketball coach Wednesday.

Laramie High School Athletics and Activities Director Ron Wagner made the announcement in a release to the media. According to a variety of sources, Shaffer was chosen from five candidates that interviewed for the position last week.

In a phone interview with KOWB, Shaffer said he's really happy to have the job.

"Really grateful to have another chance to be a head basketball coach again."

Shaffer added that there were several factors when it came to going after the Laramie position.

"I was actually born in Laramie. My parents graduated from Laramie High School. My grandmother was a teacher at Laramie High School for 30-some years, so Laramie was basically home to me, as long as I can remember, you know, as a little kid. An opportunity to do that, to go back, what I always considered home, and just the fact that I think it should be a really good job."

He's been a head coach for 34 years at the high school level. Besides stops at Cheyenne South and Evanston in Class 4A, Shaffer's also coached at Lander Valley and Newcastle. He's also been a head coach at three different schools in Colorado.

Over the course of 34 years, Shaffer has won 441 games. After stepping down as the head coach of the Bison at Cheyenne South, Shaffer spent this past season as a varsity assistant at Cheyenne Central under head coach Tagg Lain.

Wagner said in the release, "Coach Shaffer comes with a wealth of experience in building programs, appearances in state championship games, and thinking first and foremost of the welfare and education of young men. This was a very tough process but in the end, the committee and I felt Coach Shaffer's experience and proven track record of success will make him a great fit for Laramie High School and the young men participating in the program."

Shaffer takes over for Travis Brown, who stepped down last month after three seasons. His hiring is subject to approval by the Albany County School District School Board.

More on Shaffer's hiring will be part of Thursday's "Laramie Live on KOWB" radio morning show, including the full phone interview with host David Settle.