Alma Mater - Penn State, 1986 (B.A.), Wilson College, 1990 (B.S.)

Coach Mike Gaffey is now moving on to year number four as the Lions' head coach. Prior to his time at Penn State Harrisburg, Gaffey spent 16 years in the high school ranks in Central Pennsylvania.

A Bishop McDevitt High School graduate, Gaffey holds a degree in Telecommunications from Penn State and Elementary Education from Wilson College. He was a standout player at Penn State Du Bois where he was the team MVP and a Pennsylvania Commonwealth East-West All-Star participant in 1984.

In three short years, Gaffey has taken the program from an 8-win, last place team in 2008-2009, to a squad that earned the school’s first ever regular season NEAC conference championship in 2010-2011.  The coach was rewarded for last season’s success by being named NEAC coach of the year.  Penn State Harrisburg finished the year first in the conference in scoring with 83.7 points per game, as well as 3-point field goal percentage, assists and turnover margin.  In addition, Gaffey mentored four all-conference selections in Kenton Alston, Steve Jones, David Reisinger and Nick Liddell during his time with the blue and white.  Alston was recognized in the July 4th issue of Sports Illustrated in the magazine’s “Faces In the Crowd” section for ranking ninth in the country in blocked shots and setting a school record with eight blocks in a single game.

Coach Gaffey has worked a number of basketball camps during his 20 year coaching career, including the following schools and organizations: University of Pittsburgh, Penn State’s main campus, St. Joseph’s, Metro Index at California University of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven, Millersville, Lebanon Valley College, Alvernia, Jack McCloskey’s and Fred Clark's Pennsylvania Big East Camp.

Gaffey also has an extensive family tree of former players and assistant coaches that have moved upward on onward in the coaching profession.  They include:

Scott Pera – Assistant Coach at Arizona State University

Mike Witcoskie – Assistant Coach at Rider University

Dan Barlet – Head Manager at West Virginia University

Jay Shorey – Head Coach at Newport High School

Chris Sherwood – Head Coach at Manheim Central High School

Chris Sattele – Head Coach at Middletown High School

Pete Conrad – Head Coach at Palmyra High School

David Archer – Head Coach at Pine Grove High School

Gary Martin – Head Coach at Greencastle High School

Tim Bean – Head Coach at East Pennsboro High School

Don Ross – Assistant Head Coach at Harrisburg High School

Mike Pilsitz – Head Coach at Steelton-Highspire High School

Steve Schmell – Head Coach at Red Lion High School

Todd McCall – Head Coach at Susquehanna Township High School

Jeremy Uhrich – Head Coach at Indian Valley High School

Gaffey started his head coaching career at Susquenita High School and then quickly moved to the head coaching position at Palmyra High School, where he stayed for ten years. There, Gaffey found a plethora of success as he took the Cougars to three state tournaments along with five "Elite 8" finishes in districts, including a P.I.A.A. District III AAA Championship in 1996. Along with making Palmyra a force to be reckoned with on the court, Gaffey was a three time Sportsmanship Award winner there. Following his ten year stint, he spent a year as the Head Junior Varsity Basketball Coach at Alvernia College. Following that, Gaffey was named the varsity basketball coach at Annville-Cleona High School, where he coached there for the next five years. In 2007 he was named the Lancaster League Coach of the Year.

Coaching Philosophy

It is my belief that basketball cannot only shape and mold great student-athletes, but also contribute to the knowledge and skills for them to be successful citizens.

I am a dedicated, hard working, role model. I expect my team of players and coaches to carry themselves the same way. When associated with a team you are no longer just representing yourself and your family, you now have an extended family. Therefore, you must carry yourself with dignity and respect.

Offensively, I believe in a "Kansas" style fast break system. In just one year, our team has moved from 4th to 2nd in scoring offense in the NEAC. In the half court, we run a motion offense with various sets and screens to get into the motion game. So we play fast, but we play fast with a purpose.

Defensively, we believe in creating a tempo that is very fast as well. Obviously with our assortment of "scramble" traps we were able to finish first in the NEAC in steals. We like to have the wrong people handling the ball in the wrong spots for the opponent. Finally, the building blocks of any successful program are defense and rebounding, so we emphasize these daily in our practice plans.

As a coach, I will make practice fun and effective. When practice becomes boring and monotonous, players lose interest and focus. Practices will be challenging, energetic, and done with a purpose.

Finally, these student-athletes will learn and take with them discipline, teamwork, and character to whatever they choose to do in their lives.