Hoover softball coach Mr. Jerry Goodpasture, familiarly known as Coach Good, whose achievements have earned him a place in the North Canton Hoover Athletic [2015], the Ohio Amateur Softball Association and the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association [2020] Halls of Fame and a ballpark named in his honor, has retired. The North Canton City Schools Board of Education accepted his resignation, effective Sept. 10, during their Sept. 18 meeting.
Through Goodpasture’s 19 years of coaching Hoover softball, he has seen so many incredible athletes, assistant coaches and staff members excel in their work. He was a role model for those around him and he had an everlasting impact on the people he worked with.
Mr. AJ Sarbaugh [pictured top, second from left], Dean of Students at Fairless Middle School, and Fairless High School head football coach, coached with Goodpasture from 2012 to 2014 as an assistant coach, the same three years Hoover won of it eight state titles. He recalls various moments with Goodpasture that had an impact on his life and coaching career.
“Coach Good was the model coach for character and integrity,” he said. “He represented himself and North Canton Hoover at the highest possible level.”
Sarbaugh describe Goodpasture as a “respectful, confident and intelligent man.”
“Coach Good had our girls prepared for every situation possible,” he said. “I truly believe that is why come tournament time our girls had so much success, played with confidence and were relaxed. He had a quiet confi dence about him but we also were prepared for everything and anything that could happen.”
Sarbaugh recalled the 2014 regional finals against Walsh Jesuit, where the Lady Vikes were down two runs.
“He was so calm, relaxed and confident,” he said. “But as coaches, we knew this had to be our inning or our run was over. Our girls believed in him and trusted him. Kathleen Shier hit a home run and the rest is history, as we went on to state and won it for a fourth year in a row.”
He also spoke of the state final in 2013.
“When they announced him as the head coach, he walked out of the dugout and clapped his hands and said ‘Let’s Go Today!’ We were 33-0,” he said. “We had not lost a game. Trying to be the first and only team in D1 history to go undefeated and win a state title. We did not have a good pregame. We threw the ball all over the place. It was the 10 a.m. game. However, as soon as he did that, showing just a little bit of emotion it calmed all of our girls down and excited them. We went on to score 4 runs in the first inning and it was a route. Coach Good had this knack of always knowing what to say or what to do in the moment. He had so much wisdom and experience. You can’t teach that. We all trusted him. He is the GOAT!”
Goodpasture was a kind-hearted, honest and caring coach. He didn’t just coach athletes in a sport, he taught resilience, calmness, discipline and problem solving.
“As time goes on, people will truly realize how lucky we are to call him our own at North Canton Hoover,” Sarbaugh said. “A true Viking who brought so much pride to our community and our school. He always did things the right way and treated people right.”
NCCS School Board Vice President Mrs. Jessica Stroia said the district “honors and appreciates the remarkable journey of Coach Jerry Goodpasture, whose leadership and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark on Hoover High School.”
“For years, Coach Goodpasture has guided our students to victory on the field and molded them into leaders, teaching the values of discipline, perseverance, and teamwork,” she said. “His commitment to excellence in sports and life has shaped countless lives, making him more than just a coach — he’s a mentor, role model, and true pillar of the community.”
A 2008 HHS graduate, Stroia also played softball for Goodpasture.
“Coach Good always pushed me to give my best, not just on the field but in life,” she said. “He taught me the importance of discipline, teamwork, and perseverance. I’m forever thankful for the lessons I learned under his leadership and the memories we made as a team. Thank you, Coach Good, for your passion, your wisdom, and your tireless eff ort in leading Hoover High School to greatness. You’ve built a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come. I am proud and forever appreciative to have had you as a coach.”
Coach Good’s ability to inspire students goes beyond his wins and championships. His leadership has created a culture of integrity and respect, reminding everyone that success isn’t only measured in trophies but the positive influence we leave behind.
2024 HHS alumna Savannah Carroll played for Coach Good through her high school softball seasons and recalled his very polite and calm mannerisms.
“Something unique about Coach Good is his ability to stay calm,” Savannah said. “I found it inspiring how composed yet educational he could be. This demeanor helped the team keep a positive attitude and have an overall better performance. I can remember a game during the playoff ’s my junior year when we were losing. Coach Good told us to go out there and give it all we could, win or lose. He did not care about the outcome, and rather how we handled the situation and came back from it.”
Positivity, composure and determination are what make a team successful. It is not just winning and losing on a team with Goodpasture. It is about having good sportsmanship, poise and dedication.
“Goodpasture was very adamant on having poise and always being good sports,” Savannah said. “We had a reputation to uphold and had to keep the treasure of the Hoover softball name. We were frequently reminded of always having respect for each other and the other team before games and practices. The team saw Coach Goodpasture as a legend. The respect and honor we had for him is unexplainable. It was an unwritten rule to always listen when he spoke, because it was something you wanted to hear. Through his teaching, he made the team a group of best friends.”
Goodpasture was a pure and genuine soul on the Hoover softball team. He had a humorous personality, a good character and created a bond with his team that could never be broken. Savannah remembers her fondest memory of him.
“My favorite Coach Good memory is when he would take pictures with us on our media days,” she said. “He would make goofy faces and make us laugh, creating trust and letting us know how much he cared for all of us. Coach Goodpasture was more than just a mentor to Hoover softball. He truly listened and understood the concerns and feedback of athletes, to foster a stronger coach-athlete relationship. Goodpasture set achievable goals that helped us maintain focus and stay motivated. I would love to tell Coach Good a million thank you’ s. His coaching\ went beyond the dirt and will stay with all of his players for a lifetime. I cannot express my gratitude and respect for Good.”
Savannah’s twin sister, 2024 HHS alumna Sadie Carroll, plays softball at Gannon University and also played for Goodpasture during her time at Hoover. Something that stood out about her former coach was his acceptance and appreciation of student-athletes. He valued his team’s outside life of softball and did not penalize for missing practice due to a family or academic event.
“Softball was always one of the busiest sports at Hoover,” she said. “In return, one way that he showed us respect was by respecting our time/activities outside of softball. He understood that we had lives off the field.”
Goodpasture believes in resilience and perseverance rather than scolding or belittling. His team and staff appreciated and noticed that about him. It was never just about winning or losing, but it was about bouncing back after a difficult game or close loss.
“There were only a few times when we lost bad enough for him to raise his voice at us,” Sadie said. “His famous words were, ‘Well, not how we wanted the game to go. We’ll get the next one.’ He has taught me resilience through this attitude to adversity.”
He also knew how to coach players as well as the team as a whole.
“Coach Good always knew how to approach different players,” Sadie said. “For me personally, I responded best to calm and collected constructive criticism. Whenever I needed someone to calm my nerves or have faith in me, Coach Good would always wave me over. His words usually consisted of: ‘We just need you to get on base, don’t think too much,’ ‘Just put the ball in play and move the runner,’ or the one I got the most, ‘Just BE PATIENT and you’ll be fine.’ He made the game seem so simple and thoughtless which really helped me relax in high pressure situations.”
Being a coach is not just about creating plays, leading workouts or physically demanding activities for athletes. It is more so about being an inspiration, a role model and an outlet, all of which Goodpasture represented.
“Hoover softball is about to enter a new era,” Sadie said. “I did not think I would see the post-Coach Good era so soon, but alas it has come. It’s going to be an adjustment for the players who have only ever played for him, but I’m sure the program is in good hands. I hope that the drive to win and be the best is what sticks with the team and the program. When I played no one was ever content with a loss or a close win, we always wanted to be the best. Also, Coach Good’s favorite saying, ‘It’s a good day to play two.’ ”
HHS Athletic Director Mr. Larry Kinnard spoke about Goodpasture’s ability to inspire, motivate and educate his players and assistant coaches.
“The impact Coach Goodpasture has left on Hoover High School athletics and the community of North Canton is unparalleled,” he said. “His dedication to the sport of softball was evident throughout his time [2005-2024] at Hoover. He has not only been a Hall of Fame coach on the field, but a Hall of Fame mentor to so many athletes and coaches who have crossed his path. We would like to thank Coach for ALL that he has done and wish him all the best in the future. He has truly embodied what it means to be a Hoover Viking.”
Sarbaugh, who refers to Goodpasture as “the closest thing I have to a grandfather,” agrees.
“I can’t put into words how much he means to me and what he has done for me, North Canton Hoover and the softball program,” he said. “I still remember the fi rst state title we won when I was on staff in 2012, and he put his arms in the air and then hugged me immediately. It brings tears to my eyes. I am a better person, teacher, coach, dad and husband because of being around Coach Goodpasture. You won’t fi nd a better person. I have so many lifelong memories being a part of the softball program and being around Coach Good. He always looked after me and took care of me. I consider him a great friend. It’s hard to imagine him not coaching third base or calling pitches for the Vikings, but nobody did it better than him. He is a legend and he is the GOAT in Ohio high school softball. He is known nationwide. If I can be half the man Coach Good is, then I will have a very successful life — and it goes so far beyond wins and losses. It’s how you treat people and relationships — always doing the right thing.”
As her sister, Sadie wishes her former coach all the best.
“Congratulations on such a memorable career,” she said. “Thank you for always believing in me and pushing me to be a leader on the team. And thank you for driving us continuous winning records and post season runs; nothing feels as good as winning. I will carry your lessons with me to college ball and beyond. And one last thing, it was Ernie Banks who said, ‘it’s a good day to play two.’ ”
Sarbaugh thought about this legend’s legacy.
“[Goodpasture] has been a part of the [softball] program since it started,” he said. “The stadium is named after him. He will be remembered for the eight state titles, the countless district and Federal League championships. He will be remembered for winning four state titles in a row. He will be remembered for being a pitching guru and development of pitchers at Hoover and in the area. However, I think more importantly, he will be remembered for the way he treated people — the relationships he built and what he did for our girls, the program and our community. Jerry Goodpasture is Hoover softball.”
