In 2008, the Detroit Lions of the National Football League hired Loeffler to be a part of their offensive staff. However, after only one season out of the college ranks, Loeffler was hired by Urban Meyer to join his staff at Florida.[4] Loeffler served as quarterbacks coach, where in his first season he was tasked with helping Tim Tebow become a more polished pro-style quarterback. Tebow finished the season ranked 1st in passer efficiency.[5]
When Steve Addazio was let go from Florida to eventually become the new head coach at Temple University, he brought Loeffler along as the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Under his leadership, the Owls offense improved to the 7th leading rushing offense in the nation (257 yards per game)[6] and 33rd nationally in pass efficiency (142.8).[7] The team finished the season 9–4, ranked 2nd in the MAC East and defeated Wyoming 37–15 in the 2011 New Mexico Bowl (the school's first bowl win since the 1979 Garden State Bowl). Sophomore quarterback Chris Coyer was named the bowl's MVP and finished the season with a 177.4 passer rating.
At the end of the 2012 season, Chizik was fired by Auburn. Former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was hired as head coach on December 4, 2012. Shortly after being hired, Malzahn announced that all assistant coaches were being released, thus ending Loeffler's career at Auburn University.[13] The offense finished the season dead last in the SEC in total yds/gm and pass yds/gm at 305 and 156.6, respectively. They also finished second to last with 18.7 pts/gm.[14]
On January 18, 2013, Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer announced Loeffler's hiring as one of three new Hokies offensive assistants, along with offensive line coach Jeff Grimes (also formerly of Auburn) and wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead (formerly of Stanford University).[15]
On November 28, 2018, Loeffler was hired as the head coach of Bowling Green State University. Loeffler was taking over a Falcon program riddled by APR and off-field issues, as well as a team that in the last regime fell apart under Mike Jinks. Jinks took over with Bowling Green coming off of 3 straight MAC East Championships, winning the MAC twice and went just 4–8, 2–10, and 1–7 before being fired. Interim coach Carl Pelini went 2–3 to finish the year. In all of the press conferences, Coach Loeffler detailed a rebuild plan that would take time. With just 2 scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, one a transfer and one a former walk-on, Loeffler's Falcons went 3–9 in year 1. The season was highlighted by beating BGSU's biggest rival Toledo for the first time in a decade 20–7 in the Battle of I-75 as 30-point underdogs at home. The COVID 2020 season went 0–5. 2021 saw an improved 4–8 record, highlighted by a massive 38-point upset at Minnesota 14–10. 2022 started off tough, with an FCS loss to EKU in 7 overtimes, followed by a monumental homecoming win over Marshall who had just crushed 8th-ranked Notre Dame the week before. The Falcons started off MAC play 1–1, suffering a blowout loss to Buffalo but then won their next 3 conference games. BGSU finished the 2022 season 6–6, and was ranked 3rd in the MAC East with a 5–3 conference record. It received an invitation to play New Mexico State in the Quick Lane Bowl.
On October 30, 2021, Loeffler became the first head coach to be ejected for two unsportsmanlike conduct calls.[16]
Personal life
Loeffler received his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1996 and a graduate degree in history and political science in 1998. He earned the Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement award during the 1997–98 academic year. Loeffler has a son, Luke, from his first marriage and two children, Alexis and Mary Elizabeth, with his current wife, Amie. He was a college quarterback coach to Tom Brady and is reported to be one of his closest friends.[17][18]