Amazing Era Ends As Clarion Area Softball Coach Dan Shofestall Retires

(Above Image by Kim Constantino: 2019 – Coach Shofestall, with Kait Constantino after presenting her with her District Nine Silver Medal)

Clarion Area Softball Coach Dan Shofestall retired recently, closing out a stellar thirty-plus year career that spanned parts of five decades, patrolling the diamonds, including Little League Baseball, Little League All-Stars and for the past fifteen years with the Bobcats.

It is impossible to describe the countless hours in this labor of love that this fine man has given to his players and their families, his assistant coaches, opposing coaches, Clarion Little League and the Bobcats Softball program in general.

In typical Dan Shofestall fashion, when I mentioned wanting to do an article and wanting quotes, he was a bit hesitant, not wanting to miss anyone who he felt should be recognized. But in his assessment, there is too vast a number of individuals that have worked with him in his passion for the kids for him to recall everyone.

You will not get through reading the first several paragraphs of Coach Shofestall’s comments below, without sensing a man who has a heart of gold, who deflects any praise to others. Those who know Dan personally, know exactly what I am talking about.

With this article being occasioned by Coach Shofestall’s retirement from the Bobcats, I will first share some of the facts, figures and highlights from the Dan Shofestall Era with the Cats (though Dan would probably even be uncomfortable with that description), then Coach Shofestall’s comments etcetera, followed by a closing statement or two.

Coach Shofestall’s Bobcats won four Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) titles (2008, 2010, 2011 and 2019). The Bobcats made the District Nine playoffs all but one season, winning districts in 2011 and made the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) playoffs four times (2010, 2011, 2016 and 2019), winning the West Championship and advancing to the State Title game in 2011, and advancing to the quarterfinals in 2019.

The Bobcats played 333 games under Coach Shofestall, compiling a record of 214 wins and 119 losses and a winning percentage of .643.

From 2008 through 2013 the Bobcats had a record of 102 wins and 23 losses, for an .816 winning percentage over that span.

Some special notes on the 2011 team: They scored 301 runs for the season. They mercy ruled 16 out of 18 opponents in the regular plus one more in the playoffs.

In the run through the 2011 District Nine and State Playoffs, Clarion defeated DuBois Central Catholic 13-0 in the District Nine 1A Quarterfinals, Elk County Catholic 9-7 in the Semifinals and Smethport 9-0 in the Championship Game (Note Smethport and Clarion were both undefeated heading into the game. Clarion was 21-0 and Smethport was 19-0). 

In the PIAA State Playoffs: Clarion defeated South Side Beaver 5-4 in the First Round and Cochranton 8-0 in the Quarterfinals. The Bobcats were 3-2 winners over Chartiers-Houston in the Semifinals/Western Final. (Note: Chartiers-Houston was the was the District Seven Champion and defending PIAA State Champion. Fifteen of their twenty-two wins were shutouts. The Bobcats and Buccaneers each entered the game undefeated. Clarion came into the game at 23-0, while Chartiers-Houston entered at 22-0.  Clarion came from behind twice in the game, tying it at 1-all in the fifth and scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth for the lead and eventual final score of Clarion 3 – Chartiers-Houston 2.)

Clarion fell to Minersville 6-1 in the State Championship Game at Penn State and finished with an outstanding 24-1 record and a PIAA State Second Place. Four players from that team were named First Team All-State First Team All-Staters: Tiffany Smathers – Short Stop, Kelly Peterson – Catcher, Krysta Fuller – Pitcher and Jessica Funk- Second Base.

Coach Shofestall’s Remembrances

I was asked by Dave McClaine to write an article for the Clarion Sports Zone on my coaching career at Clarion Softball and Clarion Little League over the years. He was interested in me sharing memories of special seasons, assistant’s, games etc. To be honest, I was hesitant to write a story on my coaching career mainly because I’ve been coaching for over 30 years and 5 different decades believe it or not. I started coaching in Clarion Little League in 1993 but I also helped out volunteer coaching in the 80’s.

That being said I felt it would be very difficult for me to thank everyone I needed to and not forget and leave someone out. In all honesty, the thank you’s from me should be in the thousands to all of the people that I‘ve come in contact with and helped me and our teams over the years. When you coach as long as I have, the list of people becomes quite long.

From my family, the players, parents and families, coaching staff, opposing coaches, fans, media outlets, Booster Club,  Athletic Directors, School officials,  booster clubs, umpires, Clarion Little League, Borough employees, area businesses, local clubs  etc… the list could go on forever and ever. I would have to say that probably 90% of the people that I know have been people I’ve come to know through my coaching over the years. I am blessed and so thankful to all of these people.

So please forgive me, but I will be speaking in generalities and not be mentioning very many people by name. The reason being once again, is I’m afraid of forgetting and leaving peoples names outs. But please believe me when I say that I still think back fondly through the many years of all who have helped me and our players and teams in so many ways.

You are all greatly appreciated and I can’t thank you enough.

Since resigning as Clarion softball coach, I have been busy going through a lot of my old papers and I was shocked at how much I have accumulated over the last 30 plus years. I pretty much kept every thing filed from emails, practice plans, scouting reports. drills, press clippings etc. I don’t believe I’m stretching it a bit when I say I have between 3,500 to 4,500 papers to sort through. Most of them I have been throwing out into the garbage. (by the way my garbage man is a player I coached in Little League All-Stars in 1994 lol).

But of all of the things I’m sorting through, the most precious things to me are the old press clippings of the teams and players I’ve had the privilege to coach over these years. To see my players pictures and re-read the articles of every Little League, All-Star or Softball game has rekindled many many heartfelt memories again. I’m so glad I saved them all.

I also cherish all of the cards my players and others have sent me over the years. They have picked me up at times when I needed it most. It’s fun to hear and learn from  my former players how they are doing in life. Many are married and have families or are in college or some other endeavor they tell me about. Two of my former players (Riley and Quinn) even got married and live in Georgia, last I heard.

On January 19, 2005 The Clarion Area School District hired me to be the new softball coach at Clarion Area. I was excited. I had been coaching Little League the previous twelve years but I always  kept track of High School softball and had great interest in it. I went to watch Clarion-Limestone and Clarion play a game at Clarion County Park one afternoon. After the game I made up my mind I was going to put in for either the C-L or Clarion coaching position as soon as one of those positions became available. Shortly after that I heard the Clarion position was open and put in for the job.

Keith Murtha was my first Athletic Director and helped me get started in many ways. I Have been blessed to have five great AD’s over the years who have helped me in so many ways. That first year, we finished with a 5-10 record but the rebuild had begun. It will always be a special team in my memory along with every other team I have ever coached. Each team I have coached have been special in different ways. The 2006 team saw us record upset wins against Keystone and C-L which helped propel us to our first playoffs.

Starting with the 2008 season we began  a string of 4 straight KSAC championships. In 2010 we were D9 Runners-up losing to Elk County Catholic in the final. The following year  were D9 Champs and  went to the State Championship game where we lost to Minersville 6-1. We finished the year 24-1 and although the ending was not how we wanted  the season to end,  the ride we took together get to the State Final as a team and community is something I’ll always remember.

We were able to capture the KSAC title again in 2013. Our 2016 and 2019 teams were also D9 runners-up and qualified for the state tournaments.

The 2020 team of course is special in a different way. We didn’t get to play a game that year of course, as we all know that the season never happened due to Covid. We thought we had a pretty good team coming back that year and we put in 2 great weeks of practice. We were scheduled for our first scrimmage at DuBois’ Heindl Field against Curwensville and Redbank. As I was heading to the school I received a call to stop in the office as soon as I got there. The scrimmage was off. We went to Weaver Park and had our own little fun scrimmage. Little did we know that would be the last time we would be together as a team. Like many other teams around the world there was great disappointment.

I will salute our two seniors here who never got to wear the Black & Orange for their final senior season. Tori Vega and Kaitlyn Constantino.

When talking about my time as a coach over the years, I must bring up my second home Weaver Park. It is the home of our softball team, but it was also where I spent much time in my early years of coaching. I have had so many fun moments of both my softball and Little League days. In the early years before it was converted into a softball field it was one of our two Little League Baseball fields. It was where my first Sorce team won its first Little League championship in fact. Back then we had ten teams and used both fields a lot. But as I said before the hundreds of memories I have of that park whether it is Little League, All-Stars, or Bobcats softball are priceless.

We saved many games out there over the years for the kids to play on both on the softball and baseball fields. We used to have a tarp for the softball field. It was nice for the fact that you could cover the field when rain was coming. Problem was it was an absolute beast to get it off the field and rolled up before game time. We would have to set up pumps to get the water off of the tarp. We had big squeegee rollers also helping.

One time after it rained, a cold front moved in and the water on the tarp  froze with a  sheet of ice on it. As the day wore on, it was evident that the ice wasn’t going to melt. We had a game that evening with C-L and we had no choice but to push the ice off of the tarp with brooms onto the grass outfield. What a mess. It looked like big pieces of  broken glass and we had it in a pile the whole way around the outfield 3 to 4 feet high. We then had to load it up onto the gators and haul it off the field.

Getting the tarp folded and rolled up was also quite a task especially on windy days. Once we got it folded we would roll it onto a big drainage pipe. We got a lot of help from the community to roll the tarp off of the field including Borough employees, the CUP maintenance crew, family, players and anybody else we could find driving by.

One time, Larry Wiser even had the football team rolling it off for us. Many, Many people helped. Admiral Perry Hummell was our chief meteorologist and ground man.

But Weaver Park was a field that I spent many hours on, whether I was getting it ready for a game or practice. But the greatest feeling was  when after working on the field all day and being  dead tired my players would tell me how nice the field looked and thanked me for it. That always made my day and I thank you all for that. 

I have many fond memories of Weaver Park.  My kids played there. My grandkids played there. The kids I coached in Little League now have kids playing there. My son coached there. I’ve often joked with people but I totally believe that I doubt if anyone has ever put as many footprints on the Weaver Park fields than I have. It’s been fun.

Two people I do have to mention are Allen Peterson and John Stroup.  Allen, like so many others has helped me in many ways. He was a assistant coach for many years  but also did many other things for area softball. Allen also yearly sponsors the “Allen Peterson Academic Achievement Award,” given to a senior member of the softball team who meets all criteria. Also to John Stroup who has been with me longer than anyone else. He has been with me and the the softball program as a volunteer since the beginning and helped me in numerous ways. And in Little League, even though he coached on a different team, he always brought our team’s Sorce hats.

I haven’t talked about Little League yet, but I must say in the 12 years I coached it was a blast.

I started coaching the Sorce team and my assistant coach was Randy Reynolds.  My son Chris was on the team and Randy’s boy Mike, and later on Neil was also on it. Randy, years later, would be one of my assistants on our softball team.

As I said before it was a 10 league team and the teams were all very competitive. Our teams were always pretty good and played the game hard.

The Sorce uniforms were Red, White and Blue and the kids were proud to where those colors, but the mothers complained sometimes about them being tough to wash. In the later years, the Star Wars movies were a big thing and the kids had a long banner they had made up with the words “May The Sorce Be With You” referring to the famous quote in the movie “May The Force Be With You”. They carried it to our games and swimming parties. I still hear  from a lot of my Sorce players and how things are going in their lives. But one thing is for certain,  they always bring up their days of playing Little League and what it meant to them. I loved my Little League days and the amazing kids  I coached.

All-Stars were also a lot of fun. At that time Franklin was our big rival. They were good and rightfully so. They were the three-time Pennsylvania State Champions and in 1997 they beat us in the Winner brackets. We had to work our way through the losers bracket by beating Cranberry and then 10 runned  Franklin on their field. That set up the showdown at Weaver Park in front of a huge crowd, The game was tied after 6 innings and went into extra innings until the the 8th inning when Clarion walked it off with the win in one of the craziest plays you will ever see. Joe Ferguson who was a friend of mine in school and Jim Campbell were coaches on that team.

In 2004, Clarion Little League hosted the 9 and 10 Year Little League State Championships. I was blessed with being the Chairman of the tournament. Jim Campbell was the field manager and he and his crew had the Little League complex looking as good as I’ve ever seen it out there. Everybody pitched in to help and make it a wonderful experience for the kids and fans.

I remember Jim had us on our knees trimming the foul lines with  scissors. Opening night we had fireworks with the movie “Field of Dreams” on the speakers. We also had a Home Run Derby.

At our banquet our guest speaker was former Pittsburgh Pirate Nellie Briles, who was the winning pitcher in Game 5 of the 1971 World Series. Nellie told some great stories to the kids and audience about his teammate and Pirate great Roberto Clemente.

We had many good All-Star teams over the years including the 2001 team that went to the State Championships skippered by Jim Campbell.

So as I close, I wanted to say thank you all once again to all of the people I’ve come to know through coaching these past 5 decades. I didn’t mention very many names for the reasons I stated at the beginning. I’ve probably coached close to 600 games starting many years ago. Worked with close to 60 different coaches and coached hundreds of players who have inspired me in so many ways. And I thank you all.

A special thanks to my wife Linda who has supported me and my love for coaching and my teams through all of the years.

Thanks also to my extended family. I worked with 5 Athletic Directors in my 18 years at Clarion and without their help I could never have been a coach. They were Keith Murtha, DJ Bevevino, Larry Wiser, Roger Walter and Nancy Mills. Also 6 assistant coaches who were very good. Bethany Brocious, Ed Baumcratz, Allen Peterson, Randy Reynolds, Dave Constantino and Matt Best. Also dozens of volunteer assistant coaches in both Clarion softball and Little League who were so good and helpful and I thank you so much. There’s no way we could have done it without you all.

And last but not least, to the players I’ve coached in Little League, All Stars and Clarion softball these past five decades. Thank you once again for being the players I’ve enjoyed so much coaching. You were all amazing. Lots of memories and lasting friendships for sure.

You are the ones who have inspired me and I thank God for every one of you and the memories we shared over the years.

Dan, it is a two-way street. Soak this in and enjoy every second of seeing what this small sampling of those whose lives you’ve touched have to share.

Longtime Multi-Sport And Clarion Area Assistant Softball Coach Dave Constantino

When I think of Clarion softball, I think of Dan Shofestall.  I have had the privilege of working with Dan as the Little League Softball player agent and as an assistant coach with him for the Clarion Area softball team.  I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dan and how he runs a program and how he treats the people associated with the program.

Dan’s dedication to the development of softball is immeasurable.  Unless you have been a part of the high school program, you have no idea how much time he spent on getting the field ready for practice and/or games. Oftentimes he would be there at 8:00 a.m. to work on the field to make sure the field was ready for a 4 o’clock game when most fields would have been deemed unplayable.  He always put the program and the girls ahead of himself and displayed tremendous humility in the process.

My daughters were very fortunate to play for Dan.  They not only were taught the game of softball but more importantly they were taught lessons in life.  Both Alexis and Kaitlyn have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Dan and the part he has played in helping them to develop into the young mature ladies they have become.  I could never thank him (and his staff) enough for what he has done for them and the hundreds of other girls that he mentored over the past 18 years.

In closing, I would like to just say, “Well done Dan.”  You will be sorely missed by this community and district as you have represented both with the utmost class and professionalism.  For 18 years you have navigated a very successful program worthy of acknowledgement and celebration.  I am proud to call you a colleague, but more importantly a friend.  On a side note, most people don’t know that Dan is a closet Notre Dame fan. 

Longtime Oil City Derrick Sports Editor Ed Brannon

For someone who has spent nearly his entire adult life sitting at a computer and typing in words for a living, you’d think I’d have some idea of how to convey my thoughts and feelings about Dan Shofestall stepping down as Clarion High School’s softball coach.

Heck, it’s not like I’ve never done it before and yet, I’m sitting here with a lump in my throat, a tear in my eye and a smile on my face as I attempt to sort through a myriad of memories of Dan that keep popping into my brain.

I guess those emotions, in a strange sort of way, kind of illustrate my admiration for a man who I once saw as a coach, but who I now consider a dear friend.

I vividly remember the very first time I interviewed Dan after a game. It was 20-some years ago at Cranberry and he was on his way to the team bus. I caught up with him just before he boarded. He had just lost a tough game in dramatic fashion and I wouldn’t have blamed him if he didn’t want to talk. In fact, I half expected it.

But, you know what, he stood there and answered every question in that quiet, unassuming and soothing tone as his players waited inside the bus to leave.

And that’s what sets Dan Shofestall apart and why he’ll always rank as one of my all-time favorite coaches (regardless of the sport) that I’ve had the privilege to meet.

Obviously, that was many years ago and I continued to marvel over his dedication to his sport, his team, his players and his community.

You can’t describe a person like Dan in just one word… because it’s impossible. To start with, he’s the most humble man I’ve ever known. He’s a Christian who truly cares about people. Although many years have passed since he coached against her, Dan always asks how my daughter Brooke is doing.

You can add hard working, loyal, dependable and genuine. Dan ALWAYS was the first coach to call, and report his score on game night. That may not mean a thing to most, but to a sports department, it was very much appreciated.

About a year ago, he was sending uplifting and inspirational text messages to folks in what he called “The Daily Dan.” I can’t wait til I get one.

Anyway, I could go on and on singing Dan’s praises, but I’m sure anyone who’s ever had to great fortune to meet or be around him, already knows that.

I’ll leave it there, knowing that although he may have retired from coaching and I’ll miss him dearly, we’ll always have a connection that will stand the test of time!!!

Thanks for all you’ve done and will continue to do. I’m proud to call you my friend!!!

Former Longtime Redbank Valley Softball Coach John Sayres 

I would like to congratulate Dan on a very long and successful career as Clarion’s head softball coach.

I have known Dan for a very long time before coaching against each other. Both of us worked at Owens – Illinois and played on the same softball team at the plant.

When Clarion and Redbank played each other, it always was a special game. Records were thrown out the window because of the rivalry we had developed. As bad as we both wanted to win, after the game we were always good friends. We would talk on the phone giving each other scouting reports on our upcoming games but the week in which we played, there were no phone calls.

Congratulations Dan

Coach John Sayers Redbank Valley

Longtime Educator and Administrator and Clarion Area School District Superintendent Joe Carrico

Dan was everything a district would want from a coach.  He was deeply invested in the well being of his players, is a person of integrity, is authentic in his actions and deeds, was always taking a lead with items that were unseen but never unnoticed such as field prep, weekend workouts, relationship building with the athletes and their families or just being a positive influence and a great ambassador for the district and the sport of softball. 

Clarion Area was blessed to have Dan as a part of our district. 

We wish him nothing but the best as he moves on to his next adventure!

Joe Carrico

Former Longtime Clarion Area Bobcats’ and Central Clarion Wildcats Head Coach and Clarion Area Athletic Director Larry Wiser

Dan was and is an outstanding coach. He stresses fundamentals, hard work, and TEAM play.

Dan surrounded himself with some great coaches. I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Dan and his staff as Athletic Director. 

I will also cherish the time he gave to my family!

Sad see you retire Dan.

There are a lot of Little League and High School Girls softball players who benefited from your association. 

Best wishes my friend!

Current And Longtime Keystone Softball Coach John Stiglitz

Here are a few comments on my perspective of Coach Dan Shofestall. Dan has been a well respected softball coach in the KSAC as well as the state of Pennsylvania for many years.

I have many memories of great contested games with Dan’s teams. Some were wins some were losses. Whatever the outcome, I always knew the Clarion team was prepared to play. When the schedule was released it was always a game I looked at to see when we played them. It was always one of the highlights of our season.

 Win or lose, Dan would always have something positive to say after the game. You could tell he enjoyed everything about coaching softball. I’m sure Coach Shofestall has made a huge impact on the lives of many of the young ladies he’s coached.

Clarion High School will miss the efforts Coach Dan has brought to the great sport of softball.

As for  myself, it’ll be different playing Clarion without Dan being across the diamond from me.

John Stiglitz

Keystone Softball

Longtime Clarion Softball Assistant Coach and longtime Clarion Little League Baseball Coach Randy Reynolds

Dan and I had coached together for probably longer than anyone else through Little League, and All-Stars, and high school softball. He gave me the opportunity to work with high school girls after I retired from teaching, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

The thing about Dan is that no one prepared more than he did. Every practice, every game, he had a detailed plan for what he wanted to do. That allowed us to get more done in our allotted time than any other team, and over the course of a season that makes a big difference.  His teams always got better as the season went on.

The other thing that impressed me was how deeply he cared about the students on his team.  They weren’t just players to him, they were people he cared about, and continues to care about after they leave school.

Longtime Former Cranberry Softball Head Coach Glenn Barcinas

I always loved when Clarion and Cranberry would play because it would always be a great game!! Coach Dan ALWAYS fielded tough competitive teams. Great coaching colleague and friend!!

Best of luck in your retirement…I’m sure I’ll see around the fields!!

Glenn Barcinas

Former Softball Head Coach-Cranberry

Longtime Karns City Softball Head Coach Mike Stitt

Dan is great individual who respected the game and opposing teams.  

Whether being at Karns City or at Clarion, Dan would always stay extra and just talk about the game and was congratulatory whether in a win or a loss.  

I will definitely miss our conversations.  

Longtime Multi-Sport Coach Jim Campbell

Dan was never a great athlete and never really played ball himself so he was completely self-taught.  I think that is why Dan focused so much on details of the game.  Dan could be relentless in focusing on details to make an athlete better.  Dan lived through his players and wanted to make each player to accomplish goals and become a better person.

While Dan is a great person and as honest as the day is long, he was VERY competitive!  He wanted to win whether it was a league title or in All-Stars. Dan always wanted to climb the mountain and try and be the best.  When I coached with Dan we would spend hours debating, planning and debating again what we should do and how we needed to improve.  Many of those conversations took place on my front porch with Randy Reynolds, Wayne Wilson, Lance Reed, John Murray, Joel German while my wife would cook nachos for us to eat.  Those conversations could last hours but were some of the best times. 

When I coached Little League I know Dan made me a better coach.  I knew he was going to work so hard to get the best out of his players and teams that I need to step up if I was going to be competitive with him.  The rivalry between Sorce and Burns was great!  The game would bring out the best in each team and the crowds there watching brought such an energy to the field.  Every game was a strategy session on how to find a weakness in either team.  The games were just so competitive and intense.  What is so wonderful about that time is no matter how bad each team and coach wanted to win Dan and I almost every game sat down afterwards and discussed the game for hours.  Always competitors but above it all Dan and I were friends.

For the past 20 years or so we coached together we always had nicknames.  Mine was Skipper, Joe Ferguson was Professor and the one that stuck with Dan (he had several) was Dinosaur.  In the end, I guess that nickname doesn’t exactly fit because the virtues he tried to teach hard work, teamwork, faith, family and a relentless determination to be better will never go extinct.

Longtime D9and10Sports.com Co-owner, Sportswriter and Broadcaster Chris Rossetti

Dan’s commitment and dedication to Clarion softball was unparalleled. The things he did for the program behind the scenes is going to be hard to replace.

I am going to miss working with him. He is truly one of the good guys. 

Clarion softball will miss Dan, and He has earned a long and happy retirement.

Longtime Clarion-Limestone Basketball Coach And Longtime Little League Baseball Coach Joe Ferguson

I happen to be on vacation this week but wanted to make sure to send something on Dan since

he and I grew up together through grade and high school. We graduated the same year and he has been one of my best friends throughout the years.

I could tell stories as far back as high school basketball, but for the sake of staying short I will tell you only about some Little League tales.

As the years go by most folks forget what the past holds, so I will share what happened, if my memory serves me correctly, about the Little League years. 

There was a time period, I believe 1995-1997 that the Clarion All-Stars were coached by the same three coaches and managers. Those gentlemen being Dan Shofestall, Joe Ferguson, and Jim Campbell. We all three were coaching teams in the league, Dan with Sorce, Jim with Burns and Burns, and myself with Pizza Pub.

The first year we coached together, we decided that Jim would be the manager and Dan and I would coach. Not knowing that we would be  doing this for three years in a row, when it came to the second year in All-Stars, we decided to have Dan be the manager, and Jim and I be the coaches. At that time we decided to nickname each other Gilligan, the Professor, and Skipper. All characters from Gilligan’s Island! We obviously had a great time doing this together, and as it all played out when we hit the third season together, I was titled with Manager of the team. As fate would have it, we ended up winning a district title, which at that time, I believe had been a twenty-one or twenty-five year wait for the Clarion area.

All said, it was a great reunion for Dan and I to get to work together along with Jim Campbell and some others such as Randy Reynolds, who was also an assistant to our All-Star teams.

Since then, Dan and I have continued to share with each other about our high school teams in their respective sports , with Dan at Clarion girls softball and me at Clarion-Limestone boys varsity basketball.

He is always looking to become a better coach and person through clinics and books he’s read.

The main thing I would like to share is that Dan is a “class” act and his success in the sports realm is a direct result of his character on and off the field. He is one of the nicest gentlemen I have ever known and I am proud to be his friend. 

Congratulations to one of the nicest men I have ever been associated with!

Current Butler County Community College and Former Longtime Moniteau Softball Coach Dan Beebe

Talk about a legacy of greatness. 

In an era of fierce competition, different players each season, for the last 18 seasons the common thread of Clarion Area Softball was YOU

You blended teams better than anyone with your caring way. You always found a way to get them all to buy into your team-first approach. 

During my 6 seasons as Head Softball Coach at Moniteau (2011-2016) there was always that competitive nature and upmost respect when we played Clarion Area Softball. 

We became friends through competition but I have been privileged to get to know Dan off the field.   One of the best people I have ever met. We need more great coaches in softball like Coach Shofestall. We need more great people in life like Dan Shofestall. 

It’s been an honor to watch you in action all these years. I’m lucky to have been in attendance for some of your biggest games. 

Happy Retirement, Coach Shofestall. 

Longtime Clarion-Limestone Football Coach Clyde Conte (Also Coached Slippery Rock And Butler)

The entire Shofestall family was wonderful to me.  Jay was the first C-L football player I met in July of 1973, his sister Jane was in 7th grade and Suzanne was a Senior cheerleader.  Edgar, their father was a wonderful man and his wife taught in the same building with me.  

I think what set Dan apart was his love for baseball and softball, and the calm but competitive demeanor he exhibited.  I feel the same way about Randy Leadbetter, Joe Ferguson, and Dave Beers.  Dan’s passion for coaching and his commitment to youth was refreshing.  He represents everything that is good in coaching.  Clarion Area has been blessed with legendary coaches, and Dan is certainly one of them.

Clyde

Longtime Clarion News Sports Editor Ryan Pugh

Dan was one of the best coaches I ever got to work with in my 15 years here at the newspaper.

He was always accommodating and friendly. He also had tremendous quotes for preseason preview stories (even though he lifted some of the quotes from sports movies).

I hope Dan gets to enjoy his retirement.

All the best.

Ryan S. Pugh

Longtime Clarion Softball Assistant Coach John Stroup

In 2005, my daughter Kelly was going to start her freshman year in softball. There was talk about Dan taking over the program. I coached Little League against Dan and knew of his coaching abilities. I encouraged him to take the position. He told me he would consider it and would want some help. I told him I would help. I figured I would while Kelly was in school. Kelly graduated and eighteen seasons later, I was still coaching with Dan.

It is hard, to sum up, those eighteen years.

Dan has been a steady force behind every team. He always put the young ladies first. While he did consider the wins and losses a part of the game, he always wanted the ladies to learn and love the sport. Practices were set up to achieve this.

Open gyms, summer ball, fall ball were all set up so that the girls could succeed. He gave as much time as the girls wanted to give to the sport. He was always available. The girls that took advantage of the time were the ones that showed it on the field.

Dan spent not only prepping hours for every practice and game, but he also spent hours preparing the fields for them. This is the unseen part that few saw. The field preparation not only helped CAHS but also helped Clarion Little League Softball.

For several seasons we had many ladies that had little experience. The time Dan spent not only on the experienced players, but the players needing extra time were taken into consideration and were given coaching needed to improve skills. They were part of everyday rotations.

One of my favorite memories was in the second season of Dan’s tenure. We were playing Keystone to a close game. The first base umpire said to me that we were looking pretty good. I said yes, some improvement and that we had lost the previous year to them about 42-3. He said he knew he umpired that game and was amazed at the improvement in such a short time.

The 2011 season does stand out, but all seasons had the rewards and Dan made the most of them. Losing to 5-4 the 2-time defending state champions in 2019 in the state quarterfinals was disappointing but very rewarding. We had most of the team back and look forward to the 2020 season knowing that we were in the hunt for the state championship. Having the season canceled was a disappointment, but Dan never dwelled on it. He made sure the 2021 team was ready to go.

In 2014 we lost many of the players from the previous season, and most of the team had played little ball if any at all. We lost every game to start the season; we lost the first 12 games.  He approached every practice and game consistent with other seasons. We could see improvement, but winning the last three games was huge for the ladies. I always felt that Dan had a huge place in his heart for this team because they worked at it and succeeded in improving every day.

Dan is a very faithful man and respects other people totally. I am honored to have coached with one of the best youth coaches. His heartfelt love for his players shows. He should be proud of what he achieved over the years.

Dan,  A job well done my friend!

Longtime Clarion Area Multi-Year Multi Sport Coach, Trainer and Athletic Director Keith Murtha (Formerly C-L Trainer)

I was Athletic Director at the time and recommended the hiring of Coach Dan, having known what he had done in Little League and talked with others about his developmental player philosophy. Boy did he come through in aces over the last eighteen years.

Many people say that when you play and coach for Coach Dan, you truly become a member of the family, he sends every player past and present a Christmas card, every year!

Some of my best memories with Coach Dan are these, the first team he took to the playoffs, we traveled way up north, maybe Sheffield, it snowed during the game in late May and we lost by maybe one run but Coach Dan was setting up a successful championship run.

Another time we showed up to a playoff game and the field needed a lot of work, so as the visitors, the coaching staff and I think even some players jumped into action and got that field ready.

I will always remember how hard Coach Dan worked, whether it was spending all day prepping the field, preparing for practice and having his girls ready for the game before it started.

I really enjoyed the student and fan following the team got as they made their way through several playoff runs.

Perhaps my favorite memory is that magical State runner up season, all the excitement, the following on the hill side at Slippery Rock and playing at Penn State.

Congratulations Coach Dan on a lifetime of influencing and bettering the lives of your players, coaches and all those you come in contact with.

Enjoy some games with your family you deserve it!

Longtime Clarion Area Softball Assistant Coach Matt Best

Working with Dan over the last several years has been a privilege.  I first met Dan and his coaching staff when my oldest daughter Carly began working with the Clarion Bobcat Softball team.  I would often attend practices and observe the coaching staff and learn from them.  Dan welcomed the “new” face to practice and I thank his staff for helping me learn the game of softball. 

Dan would often be seen prepping the field at Weaver Park hours before a home game, making sure his team was able to play.  Several times he would finish prepping the field minutes before the start of a game and not have time to change his clothes. Spectators and players would then see him coach first base in his boots and mud-covered Bobcat polo shirt. Because of his muddy clothes, Dan was the topic of many comments and funny jokes, however we all knew that without his efforts many home games would have been cancelled due to poor field conditions.  

The Bobcat girls loved playing for Dan.  Every one of them knew that he cared deeply for them both as a player and as a young lady.  Because of his devotion to the team as well as to them, girls loved playing the sport. 

There is no doubt that Dan Shoefstall will be a topic of conversation for many years to come.  

THANKS DAN! 

Matt’s Wife And Longtime Clarion Softball Booster Club Member And Officer Melanie Best

It has been an honor and privilege to work with Dan through the Clarion Softball Boosters over the last few years. He genuinely cares about each individual player that he has coached. I cannot thing of any kinder more compassionate human being. He will be greatly missed. Thank you Dan!!!!

Melanie Best

Former Longtime Clarion Area Softball Assistant Allen (Pete) And Wife Robin Peterson

Dan brought discipline and character to the Clarion Area softball program.  He worked tirelessly to develop the high school program and always had the girls best interest in mind. He has a huge heart and still sends Christmas cards to all his past players over the years.  To really know Dan is to appreciate his sincerity and caring for everyone. 

We wish Dan all the best, good health and relaxation in his retirement. Thank you for your many years of coaching and supporting the players. 

PS, Coach P. still beat him in the foot race.  LOL 

Longtime Clarion Little League Coach, Umpire And Board Member Joel German

The highest compliment a coach at any level can achieve in my opinion is to be referred to as just COACH. Being recognized and introduced by just this name means not only have you been in the profession for a long time, but you have also achieved a resume worthy of being called just COACH. Dan Shofestall has not only earned this, he is everything you would want a coach to be on and off the field.

He is knowledgeable of the game, but always is looking to be better. Going to clinics, reading as much as possible about the game or watching and learning from others in his profession. He is not one to take credit for his players accomplishments, but rather deflects the success of his team to others. His assistant coaches, the parents of his players, the administration or board he is associated with or the players themself, but never himself.

He believes in a team being a Family, but also an extension of his own family. This is a man that sends Christmas cards to players and families he coached decades ago. Each player he has coached during his tenure becomes part of his family. He works his players in practice hard, but his heart is always in the right place. Believing one more drill, one more swing, one more throw will make his player the best they can be. Dan is a Dinosaur in many ways. A throw back to a simpler time, when we only gave a select few the honor of being called COACH.

It is my honor to call Dan my friend and one of the best coaches I have ever had the pleasure to coach with. I am sure I speak for all the players, families and friends Dan has had the privilege of working with throughout the years in saying “Job well done Coach.”

Longtime Clarion Area Softball Assistant Eric Funk

There is a lot I could say about Dan – he is truly a class act as a coach and as a person.

Dan Shofestall is one of the best leaders and coaches of young people I have ever known!
He is a tireless worker always learning and developing new drills and new techniques to teach the sport of softball to our young ladies. He is an outstanding teacher of the fundamentals of softball.

He presented himself at all times with class and integrity and he insisted on the same from his team and his coaching staff.

He cared deeply about his players and coaches not only from the standpoint of softball but in life.

I know as a dad. I consider it a blessing that he coached my daughter! He had a wonderful impact on her life and mine as he allowed me to be a part of his staff for several years. We are thankful for Coach Dan!

His contribution to the sport of softball in our area and the positive impact he had on the lives of his players can’t be overstated.

Again, lots more I could say!

He is a very good man!!!

Thanks

Eric

Eric’s Daughter And All-State Player On The 2011 Team Jessica Funk

Coach Dan is one in a million!

“Coach Dan had a tremendous impact on my life. An impact that I’m still realizing the full extent of to this day.

Dan was of course an amazing softball coach but an even better leader. He was often a man of few words but when he spoke it certainly made an impact. He had a tremendous gift to make every player feel important and integral to the team’s success. He cared so deeply about each and every one of his players.

To this day I still get a Christmas card from him every single year! Dan went above and beyond the call of a high school softball coach. He would spend hours before and after practice making sure everything was ready. We had countless off-season workouts and practices, far more than most other teams at Clarion High School at the time.

He was extremely supportive of his player’s academic, artistic and other athletic endeavors. His devotion to his players was inspiring and humbling.

We didn’t always make it easy for him. As teenage girls, we were easily distracted, always chatting with each other and BEGGING to listen to the latest pop hits during practice. Dan always kept us focused and showed us the importance of determination…although he caved on the music a time or two.

Following my undergraduate studies, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. I learned what the textbooks say makes a great leader. I remember an assignment where we had to choose an important leader in our lives and see how they stacked up against the textbook assessment. Coach Dan ticked every box. His determination, vision, honesty, integrity and kindness are qualities I try to emulate in my life today.

Coach Dan, thank you for being such an important figure in my life. You have certainly changed my life and the lives of every player you coached. Happy retirement…you deserve it!”

Longtime Clarion-Limestone Athletic Director And Former Baseball Coach Brad Frazier

Dan is a student of the game. He always strived to become a better coach.

They don’t come any better than Dan and I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors. 

Longtime Clarion Little League And Clarion Area Assistant Coach Jeff Smathers And Daughter Tiffany (Smathers) Sturgeon, All-State Player On 2011 Team

Dan,

Your dedication and direction put fire in our hearts. Having you as our coach was one of the best times in our lives. Dan you always said work hard and good things would happen and they did.  Your lessons will always be remembered and the never give up attitude was just what we needed to hear.

I personally remember working as an assistant coach doing the drills and the girls saying why do we have to do these drills and then came the game where that same girl would do something spectacular, home run, catch a fly ball on a dead run and the smile that would follow. 

Everything that came with those lessons were always positive and taught with the player in mind. Dan taught commitment, perseverance and hope so that when they needed hope that was just a look from coach Dan and everything was fine again.

Dan, because of you we will always remember the life lessons that became such a huge part of the team’s success. Win or lose we knew you would be there by the way we didn’t lose many.  

A great coach is hard to find, and impossible to forget.

Thank You Coach Dan for everything.

Coach Jeff and Tiffany

Longtime Clarion Area And Freelance Sport Photographer Bri (Nellis) Kirkland Member Of 2011 Team

I’m extremely grateful for the dedication and commitment that Coach Shofestall had to the Clarion High School softball program. Throughout every practice, he always preached about working to get 1% better each day. I believe that mindset and accountability from Coach Shofestall helped our team stay focused throughout the early days of the softball season, especially when we were practicing in the gym. Getting 1% better every day added up throughout the season and eventually paid off when we were able to take the field to play for the state championship.  

I’ve taken that advice from Coach Shofestall and have tried to implement that in every area of my life.

My Closing Comments:

Coach Shofestall brought some old photos for the article by the other day and as we were in the driveway talking, Dan would share a number of old memories from Little League and All-Stars, something like, “Great All-Star team…” “My First League championship team, great players, some really good parents and assistant coaches….” Dan being Dan, no patting himself on the back. With Coach Shofestall, it was and is, first and foremost about others, especially the Kids. He has had a great influence on and been a great inspiration to more people than he will ever know.

I remember during my time coaching Little League, Dan was not afraid to pass on his knowledge, not only to make his own team better, but also players and coaches from opposing teams.

Another thing about Dan is how promptly he responds when I need quotes and/or stats from him for “big” articles about his players.

An example: When the The Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association (PaHSSBCA) announced their 2022 All-State Team several weeks ago, Dan had three players, Noel Anthony, Kylee Beers and Jordan Best selected. I emailed Dan for quotes, I think late Thursday or Friday. He emailed me back saying he could have something by the beginning of the week. Well, I believe the quotes reached me by Saturday afternoon or early evening. And the quotes, as always, were very complimentary and very well thought out.

And that’s pretty much par for the course for Dan, anytime I need quotes for big articles featuring his players.

I can say unequivocally, Dan Shofestall has never treated me with anything but absolute respect and as I’m sure he does with other media folks in the area, he constantly thanks me for covering his teams, whether talking to me face-to-face or in emails.

As others have said above, I am PROUD to call Dan Shofestall a friend.

Finally, something I’ve been thinking and I’m sure others have felt also (and maybe it is already in the works): The Softball Field at Paul A. Weaver Park needs to be named “Dan Shofestall Field.” If this isn’t in the works, I encourage the various entities involved with the governance of the complex to get together and make it happen. After all, its only a formality, Dan has “owned” that field for years. (And if help is ever needed in getting a the field ready for a game, I’m sure one call to Dan will have him out there in a heartbeat.)

I could picture a nice sign “Welcome to Dan Shofestall Field.” And under that, in slightly smaller letters, a saying that many may remember from years ago (though not grammatically correct)… “He’s Just Good People.”

(A Special Clarion Sports Zone Thank You To All Who Contributed (and kept it under your hats) To This Surprise Tribute To One Of The Finest Human Beings We Will Ever Know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

(Note: I know it may have seemed redundant, my listing so many being quoted as “Longtime,” but I don’t know how else to express it. This only goes to show the deep commitment to the kids that is so prevalent among coaches, volunteers and media throughout this area.)