Goffena steps down at Sidney

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Sidney High School has lost one of its top coaches with the announcement that head girls soccer coach Stacey Goffena is resigning from her position.

She leaves quite a legacy in her wake, having taken the program to new heights in her nine years as the head coach. She finished with an impressive career record of 97-48-18, won four league titles and reached the sectional finals twice.

Sidney has had nine seasons with 10-or-more wins and four of them happened under Goffena. And of the 11 tournament wins in the 24-year history of the program, eight of those came during her tenure.

Goffena, herself a Sidney High grad, said it came down to family in making her decision.

“At the end of every season, you just kinda re-evaluate,” she said. “And it’s just time. I’ve done it for 12 years, nine as head coach. But now my boys are getting older and getting involved in things, so I just figured it was time to step away and be a mom. I’ve had great support from my family, but I need to start being a mom more.

“It was a tough decision,” she said. “I had some great kids coming back for next season. But someone told me once that there will always be some kids that you don’t want to leave. I don’t just want to walk away. I still want to support and help.”

Sidney High athletic director Mitch Hoying says it will be a challenge replacing Goffena.

“Stacey is an extremely accomplished coach, elevating our program to one of the top five in Dayton,” he said. “So it’s going to be a very challenging role to fill. Her tenure is marked by consistency. She never won less than eight games, had zero losing seasons, four league titles, and only finished below second twice.

“The biggest compliment I can offer is that the Centervilles, Beavercreeks and Fairmonts of the world regularly called looking for games because they knew we were a team to prepare them for tournament and someone they would likely meet in second round and sectional final games,” he added. “Coach (Ron) Legg started the program and provided the foundation, and Stacey turned it into one of the best programs in Dayton. We thank her and wish her well.”

“The athletic department would like to thank her and her family for all their efforts and wish her well as she continues her teaching career in Sidney City Schools,” he added.

Goffena is also an assistant to her sister Megan, whose girls basketball team lost only once during the regular season last year and is off to a 9-0 start this season. She will continue in that capacity.

“It’s been a blessing working alongside my sister,” said coach Mummey. “When I first took over the head basketball position she was there to teach me everything. We made a deal that I would help her with soccer if she helped me with basketball. I can say it has been a fun four years and what Stacey has built I can only dream about. She is my best friend and what she has done for SHS athletics will never be forgotten.”

Some of Goffena’s former players wanted to contribute to this article when they heard of her resignation.

“If I had to choose one quote that summed up the way I view Coach Goffena’s coaching style, it would be “talent without passion is wasted; passion without talent is exhausting; talent fueled by passion is unstoppable,” said Brittney Koester, a 2011 grad and a four-year letter-winner. “Coach Goffena always had a way of motivating us to perform at our peak. Every single time she had yelled and screamed and refrained herself from cursing at our foolish mistakes, her passion behind her coaching style was not only motivation but it’s something that will be an everlasting impression on how I view life.”

“She wasn’t just a coach, she was a friend,” said Molly Schriber, another four-year letter-winner for Goffena and a 2009 SHS grad. “Yes she was our coach, but also coached us about life lessons. She has turned the SHS soccer program into what it is today. She believed in us even when we didn’t believe in ourselves. Even playing in college when I wanted to give up, I always thought back to that. Even my parents and I would say ‘what would coach Goffena say! Suck it up.’ I am grateful for having the opportunity to have been coached by, I feel, one of the greats. It’s going to be sad to see her go, but I know the mark that she has left on that program will forever be remembered.”

And 2012 graduate Abigail Epperly added “She was more than a coach, more than a teacher, more than a leader, but a friend. She taught me that in soccer and in life you cannot win on your own, but need a team to support you. Words alone cannot commemorate her impact on my life and the lives of many of her players. She will always be my greatest mentor and a lifetime friend. Sidney High School athletics has been blessed to have such a determined, goal oriented, passionate leader. Thank you for being my coach, my mentor, and my friend. Your shoes will never be filled but perhaps the path you’ve made will be followed and Sidney’s girls soccer will continue to succeed.”

Sidney High girls soccer coach Stacey Goffena (right) talks with a couple of her players, including Kaitlyn Davis (left) and Ashley Egan. Goffena announced her resignation after nine years as the head coach.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/12/web1_3-stacey.jpgSidney High girls soccer coach Stacey Goffena (right) talks with a couple of her players, including Kaitlyn Davis (left) and Ashley Egan. Goffena announced her resignation after nine years as the head coach.
Took SHS girls soccer program to new heights

By Ken Barhorst

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Reach Ken Barhorst at 937-538-4818

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