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Ron Shoemaker Feature Friday

Softball

Feature Friday: Head Softball Coach Ron Shoemaker


PHILADELPHIA – Ron Shoemaker spent four years as an assistant softball coach at La Salle from 1994-97, where he witnessed the Explorers reach the Atlantic 10 playoffs in all four seasons. Since his departure, Shoemaker continued to keep close tabs on the program and jumped at the opportunity to return, when he was hired as head coach in June.

“I told my father when I resigned [in '97] that someday I was going to be the head coach here,” Shoemaker said. “I always followed La Salle and rooted for them and hoped that things would turn around.”

Though Shoemaker has over a decade of Division I softball coaching experience, the upcoming season will be his maiden voyage as a head coach. While he embraces his new responsibilities, he does acknowledge that his role will be different this go around.

“I think the biggest change has nothing to do with softball, it's in being a manger of people,” Shoemaker said. “When you're an assistant, you can be the good cop all the time. As the head coach, there are times when you have to be the bad cop.”

Shoemaker spent four years as an assistant at Temple and four years at Saint Joseph's, where he garnered a wealth of experience not only as a coach, but in networking around Philadelphia.

“Recruiting is the name of the game at this level,” Shoemaker said. “Being familiar with the area and having the face recognition of the summer coaches made my recruiting job that much easier.”

Shoemaker has stressed that his biggest priority will be creating a new environment and allowing the results on the field to come as a result.

“The program's been on some lean years and changing the culture and reestablishing the program here has been the most important thing," Shoemaker said.

Shoemaker will rely heavily on returning seniors Liz Reed and Tristan Musho, both whom he raves have taken the underclassmen under their wings and played the role of mentor.

“I couldn't have done this as quickly and been as acclimated without them,” Shoemaker said. “They've done everything on and off the field I could possibly imagine. They've been leaders on the field and bought into some of the changes I've trade to make.

“I think 10 years from now they're going to look back and say that even though they weren't around when it happened, they were the beginning of the turnaround here.”

Both Reed and Musho have lived the ups and downs of the program's tumultuous last few seasons and recognize Shoemaker's vision as a fresh new start.

“Coach Shoemaker has changed the program immensely and we haven't even stepped on the field yet,” Musho said. “I think that speaks volumes for how I and my teammates feel about him and where this program is headed.”

"Our softball game has improved so much and he is willing to take the time to help us resolve our issues both on and off the field," Reed said.

The 2013 Explorer softball squad is a unique blend of new faces and key returners, but Shoemaker carries a neutral disposition, one which permeates team unity.

"Who puts in the work and the drive is what determines who plays," Reed said. "The returners and freshman are all in the same situation because he is a new coach to all of us so we all have to adjust to his coaching style."

“Coach Shoemaker did a good job embracing us all from day one as equals, regardless of our 'class,' Musho said. “He made sure that everyone understood that 'age' or 'class' means nothing, because we are all teammates trying to achieve the same goal regardless of our age or class rank.”

The dawn of the new season is only two weeks away, as the Explorers prepare for a four game weekend series in Farmville, Va. set to begin February 16.

Look for a full season preview on GoExplorers.com in the near future.
 
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