Robert "Chip" Schaefer, who was a part of 11 National Basketball
Association championship teams in Chicago and Los Angeles, was
named UC Santa Barbara's Assistant Athletics Director for Sports
Performance in December of 2011.
Most recently, Schaefer spent 12 years (1999-2011) with the Los
Angeles Lakers, the last seven as Director of Athletic
Performance/Player Development, where his charge was to make sure
the players remained at peak condition throughout a grueling
82-game season and playoffs. In addition to the physical
aspects of training, Schaefer oversaw the transition of young
players into the NBA lifestyle and their professional
development. He was part of five title teams with the
Lakers.
Prior to joining the Lakers for the 1999-2000 season, Schaefer
spent eight years as the head athletic trainer of the Chicago Bulls
(1990-98) where he was part of six NBA championship teams.
Before entering the NBA full-time, Schaefer was on the staff of
the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles where he
worked with some of the nation's elite professional and amateur
athletes. In addition, he served as the head athletic trainer
at Pete Newell's Big Man Campus and the California Summer Pro
Basketball League. Schaefer was also the head athletic
trainer and strength coach at Loyola Marymount from
1987-90.
A native of Deerfield, Ill., Schaefer received his BA in physical
education and sports medicine from the University of Utah in
1983. In 1990, he earned his master's degree in counseling
from Loyola Marymount. Upon his graduation from Utah, he worked as
the head athletic trainer for the U.S. Men's Ski Team from
1984-86.
Schaefer and his wife, Andra, have one son (Alec) and one daughter
(Emily). Alec is a 2009 graduate of UCSB.