Our Coaching Staff:
All members of the Shooting Stars Coaching Staff have attended Coaching Clinics, including the annual Be the Best You Can Be in Cherry Hill, NJ, that feature some of the top fastpitch coaches & players in the United States. Some of the speakers from past clinics include Jennie Finch, Mike Candrea, Ken Erikson, Ralph & Karen Weekly, Michelle Granger, and Stacey Nuveman.
This is but a short list of players and coaches from which the Shooting Stars Coaching Staff have received softball training. Our coaches have taken the initiative and effort to broaden their knowledge and skills to enhance their ability to instruct the girls and to develop them into better players. By the time the spring season starts, the coaches will have attended another clinic to enhance their skills.
18&U - Dan Jones
(3rd Year) - Dan will be moving to 18&U for the 2009 season after his first year on the coaching staff of the 16&U Shooting Stars. He was an assistant coach with Cocalico High School for three years and has been involved with softball in the Cocalico Area since 1997, coaching all levels from 12&U to 18&U. He is now the head softball coach for Ephrata High School. Dan is an active member of the Denver Athletic Association, Cocalico Softball Organization, Lanco Softball Association and National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Outside of softball Dan's spare time is consumed playing racquetball. He resides in Denver, PA with his wife Kim of 25 years and their two daughters, Ashley and Nicole. dgjones@ptd.net
16&U - Gary Lefever
(4th Year) — Gary will move to the 16&U team for the 2009 season after two very successful years coaching 12&U. Before joining the Stars organization in 2007, Gary was a head coach of the Warwick Softball Association from 2001-2004, and the assistant coach of the Warwick Cyclones in 2005, before becoming head coach for the Cyclones in 2006. During his two years with the 12&U Shooting Stars, the team had 7 first place finishes, 4 second place finishes, and placed 5th at Nationals in 2007. Off the field, Gary has been a 3 year chairman of the Warwick Township Zoning Hearing Board and 2 year committee member of the Warwick School District Building and Property Committee. Gary is also the Secretary for the Shooting Stars organization. He resides in Lititz with his wife of 21 years, Cheriss, and their two daughters, Lauren (16&U Shooting Stars) and Lacey (12&U Shooting Stars). chergary@ptd.net
14&U - '95 - Jody Hahn
(7th Year) Jody joined the Shooting Stars organization in 2003 during the inaugural season of the 14&U Team. In addition, Jody is the Treasurer for the Stars organization. Born and raised in Lancaster County, Jody graduated from Hempfield High School in 1997 as a 4-year letter winner in both softball and volleyball. As an All-American catcher at Ursinus College, she graduated in 2001 with a degree in Communication Studies and Theatre. Jody began coaching in 2002 for Hempfield Youth Association, spending a year at both 12&U & 14&U. She also was an assistant coach for Elizabethtown College in 2005 and head coach of the 2006 & 2007 varsity softball team at Lancaster Country Day School. Jody and her husband Bill were married in October 2008 and currently reside in Wrightsville. jhahn123@hotmail.com
14&U - '96 - Jon & Kathy Byler
(4th Year)— Jon & Kathy Byler have moved up from being the 12&U coaches in 2009. They had been assitants to Gary Lefever during the 2008 season, and assisting the 10&U team in 2007. Jon was a 4 year member of the Shippensburg Raiders baseball team. He was also a coach in the Warwick Softball Association from 2004 to 2006. Kathy was an All- American softball player at Shippensburg University and also coached in the Warwick Softball Association from 2004-2006. Jon is also the Vice President of the Stars organization as well. Jon and Kathy have been married for 13 years and have two children, Victoria (3rd year as Shooting Star) and Justin, 8 years old, who has never missed a Shooting Stars tournament or practice in two years!!! jbyler@ironvalley.com
12&U - Brian Lohr
(7th Year) — Brian has coached the Stars at the 16U and 18U level and is the organizations' Vice President. As a Junior Olympic assistant and head coach since 2000, his experience includes: assistant coach for the Warwick Cyclones, head coach of the 14U Warwick Hurricanes, assistant coach for the 18U Warwick Lightning, assistant and head coach of the 16U Shooting Stars and assistant for the 18U Stars. His teams have won numerous tournaments, reached PONY Nationals, ASA Nationals and Lanco League Championships. During the high school season, he is a Varsity Assistant Coach at Lancaster Catholic High School. Brian has over 8 years of coaching and board member experience with both Little League Baseball and was president of the Warwick Youth Girls Softball Association for 3 years. Brian and wife Linda have been married for 25 years and live in Lititz. They have 3 children: Sam, Heidi and Hannah. Hannah is a former Warwick Cyclones player. Daughter Heidi is a former 16U/18U Shooting Star and an NCAA scholarship softball player. bklohr5@gmail.com
Coaches Link