Dan Pifer, Senior Advisor to President Obama for Strategy and Communications

Pifer has held several roles at the U.S. Department of State, such as deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs and ambassador to Ukraine. Additionally, he served on the National Security Council.

Cornell coach Dan Pifer is eager to see his Rams take part in competitive games during their inaugural season opener against Coe on Sept 4th.

Early Life and Education

Pifer was a Foreign Service officer for 25 years, serving in the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs with special assignments to Ukraine, Russia, and the UN. He earned a Bachelor of Political Science from California University of Pennsylvania. He hails from Celina, Ohio and has been coaching football at Division III Olivet College since 2012. Within one year of taking over as coach – which previously posted one of the worst records over five seasons – his teams produced 61 all-conference players and two academic all-Americans. In addition, he served as an assistant coach at Bowling Green State University, Hillsdale (Mich.) College, and NAIA University of St Francis during that time period.

Achievement and Honors

Paul recently graduated from Lenoir City High School where he earned academic Honors honors and captained the soccer team. Additionally, Paul served as a leader for community service activities such as mission trips and Cornerstone Food Pantry.

Pifer has been coaching at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio; Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan and the now-defunct Fort Wayne Freedom of United Indoor Football for many years. Additionally, he served as recruiting coordinator at Bowling Green State University. Paul is also father to two daughters. This fall he plans on enrolling at Johnson University as a Business major with plans to enter Real Estate upon graduating.

Net Worth

Dan has amassed substantial wealth through his work as the Senior Advisor to President Obama for Strategy and Communications; yet prefers living an economical lifestyle.

He was born in Wilmington, Delaware to Vivian Lear Strange (an instructional learning specialist) and Gary Malick Pfeiffer, an officer for DuPont’s financial division. His brother Robert Malick Pfeiffer also writes.

He currently co-hosts the Pod Save America podcast and serves as a political commentator on CNN. Furthermore, he served as long-time advisor and press and communications role player during Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential Campaign and Transition period. Lastly, Sarah Elizabeth Feinberg now lives with their two children Jack and Kyla in Washington D.C.