Scott Shafer and Missy Elliott Shafer, Elsa Shafer’s parents, shaped her upbringing with discipline, resilience, and family values.
Elsa Shafer, now Elsa Blankenship following her marriage to Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship, has forged a rewarding career in early childhood education.
She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in 2020, a solid academic base for her future endeavors.
Fueled by a desire to influence young lives, she pursued further education and earned a Master of Education (M.Ed) from Lipscomb University in May 2024.
Soon after, she took up a position as a kindergarten teacher, actively guiding and supporting children during their formative school years.
Elsa often posts pictures of her classroom experiences on social media, giving her followers a glimpse into how dedicated she is to teaching.
Even with Reed’s prominent NFL career, Elsa retains her own professional identity and remains dedicated to her students.
She was born on March 3, 1998, in Fayetteville, New York, and grew up in a family that valued sports.
This taught her the values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, which she uses every day in her classroom.
Since Reed just signed with the Houston Texans, Elsa is now looking for a new school in Houston.
She is still working to get more people to support early education.
Reed Blankenship Wife Elsa Shafer’s Parents Built A Strong And Supportive Family Environment
Scott Shafer and Missy Elliott Shafer, Elsa Shafer’s parents, taught her a set of core values, a love of sports, and a strong family bond that has always been there for her.
Scott Shafer is a well-respected college football coach who has dedicated his life to the sport. He was born on January 6, 1967, in Painesville, Ohio.
He grew up in a football household himself — his father, Ron Shafer, coached high school football and track at Riverside High School in Painesville for 28 years.
Ron’s sudden heart attack on the field in 1978, when Scott was just 11 years old, profoundly impacted the family and drew them even closer together.
Ron passed away at age 53 around 1994 following another heart attack, leaving behind a lasting legacy that Scott has carried forward in everything he does.
Scott attended Riverside High School, graduating in 1985, before going on to Baldwin-Wallace College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in education in 1990.
He then pursued a Master of Arts in education from Indiana University in 1993.
During his college years, Scott played quarterback — a position that reflects the competitive fire he later channeled into coaching.
He is the third of four children, with two older sisters, Pam and Heidi, and a younger brother, John Shafer, who works as an art teacher, assistant football coach, and head track and field coach at Cuyahoga Heights High School in suburban Cleveland.
Scott had a long and successful career as a coach at several well-known universities.
He was a defensive specialist at schools like Western Michigan, Stanford, Michigan, and Northern Illinois before becoming the Head Coach at Syracuse University, where he led the program from 2013 to 2015.
Scott has been the Defensive Coordinator and Safeties coach at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) since 2017.
Those who know him describe him as funny, passionate, and a true “people person” who views coaching as a way to open doors for young people from difficult backgrounds.
At home, Scott balances his professional intensity with warmth and humor.
He cooks Italian food — despite his German heritage — loves the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and, by all family accounts, dominates at ping-pong.
The family’s rec room became a tribute to football, filled with memorabilia, awards, and family photos that tell the story of a life dedicated to the sport.
Above all, Scott has always prioritized his family, making sure his assistant coaches also get meaningful time with their own families — a philosophy rooted in the belief that happy families produce better coaches.
Missy Elliott Shafer, born Missy Elliott, met Scott at Baldwin-Wallace College in 1988 during a campus event, and the two quickly fell for each other — famously talking for 24 straight hours during their first extended conversation.
Their connection deepened through a study-abroad program in Europe, and they married in June 1990, embarking on a journey together that would take them through dozens of relocations across the country as Scott’s coaching career progressed.
Missy keeps a lower public profile than her husband, but those who know the family describe her as the steady anchor who held everything together through the relentless demands of the coaching lifestyle.
She handled the logistics of raising a family on the move — managing midnight airport runs, embracing new communities, and supporting Scott during high-pressure seasons at Syracuse.
Her mother, known as Getta, passed away in 2008 during the family’s time at Michigan, which added personal hardship to an already demanding period.
Missy also faced a personal health challenge when doctors diagnosed her with malignant melanoma during Scott’s tenure at Michigan.
She received treatment at the university’s cancer center and successfully overcame the illness, with no recurrence reported.
Her resilience through that experience only deepened the family’s admiration for her.
Missy has frequently praised Scott’s humor and his dedication as a father, and she has spoken openly about the importance of work-life balance, noting that Scott genuinely prioritizes family — both his own and those of his coaching staff.
Additional Information
- Elsa has one brother, Wolfgang “Wolf” Shafer. Wolf played quarterback at Ithaca College and has followed in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in football coaching. He currently serves as Special Teams Coordinator and Safeties coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
- Elsa Shafer is of White ethnicity. She holds American nationality and was born and raised in the United States, spending her early years in Fayetteville and Syracuse, New York, before her family relocated to Tennessee.
