After coaching softball for 12 years in her home state of Tennessee, Michigan and Pennsylvania, Jessica Stiffler has found her way to a varsity coaching position for the softball team here at Altoona. 

Before coaching for Altoona, Stiffler was the JV coach for the Hollidaysburg High School softball team for three years. During the summer, Stiffler coaches for a 10U softball team.

“I was drawn to Altoona because my husband is an Altoona Alumni, my children go to school in the district and I saw that the softball program had struggled over the past years. I feel like I have a lot of softball knowledge and people skills that I could relate to the softball girls and also help them rebuild the program, advance their game skills and have a blast while doing it,” Stiffler said. 

As the team progresses throughout the season, Stiffler feels thrilled with the direction they’re heading..

“The change in mindset and attitude already from the players, parents and athletic staff toward our new coaching staff has made this transition to Altoona so enjoyable. We are already one big family and with that continuing to grow, it makes you work harder and better for your team. With that being said, I look forward to big things this season,” Stiffler said.

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Looking back in Stiffler’s life, she started playing softball when she was only 5 years old for her school Powell Starz in Powell, Tn. After playing on that team for two years, she transferred to a different school playing for Karns High School in Karns, Tn.

“These schools were hometown rivals. I started varsity all four years of my high school career. I played travel softball for Knoxville Thunder from Knoxville, Tn for four years during my high school career, traveling the country for different tournaments. I finished my softball career after reaching the college level which is most softball players dream and now bringing my knowledge of the game to the coaching side,” Stiffler said.

With Stiffler being athletic at a very young age, her parents signed her up for multiple sports. After playing multiple sports, Stiffler knew her passion was softball.

“I got to be with my friends and play in the dirt, but as I got older, it was because I just felt so alive when I stepped onto the field. When I stepped onto the softball field, freshly manicured, fresh chalk lines, the smell of a grill and people cheering for you, I just felt like nothing could stop me and to be honest, nothing really did except for maybe myself mentally. I felt invincible, and I still to this day get that feeling when I step on the field except it’s for a whole other reason now,” Stiffler said.

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As an athlete, you might feel that rush before going on a court or field. For Stiffler, she feels that rush for her team and her players.

“The excitement of knowing that someone else might feel the same way I feel just fills my cup. Softball as I got older became my everything behind Jesus. I eat, breathe and sleep softball. In the south, softball is basically another religion, a way of life. You either play and practice every waking minute or you don’t play at all, it’s just how it was, and I was addicted and I still am,” Stiffler said.

As this 2022 season progresses, they have been working on a goal Stiffler had set at the beginning of the softball season.

“Right now, our main goal is to focus on the mental portion of the game before the physical part. Softball is 80% mental and 20% physical. It’s important that our girls know and see that they are capable and believe in themselves. We plan to take it one day at a time, one practice at a time and one game at a time and enjoy that process,” Stiffler said.

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According to Stiffler, softball had a big impact on her life while growing up. She also feels as if she could write a book on how softball has impacted her.

“If you know me or have met me, you know I have a huge heart for family. I want everyone to get along, have fun together, enjoy each other’s company, all while experiencing life together. The good, the bad and the ugly, and that’s exactly what softball was for me. From all the coaches that I had, the girls I played with, who are still like sisters to me by the way, the road trips to tournaments, the team drama, the pick me ups and the hard truths that I and my team needed to hear. I can almost recall every memory of these moments,” Stiffler said. 

While Stiffler has had her best moments in softball she has also had her worst moments. She calls it “the good, the bad, and the ugly.

“The good thing was teammates having sleepovers, and my mom taking us to eat at Waffle House at 2 a.m., celebrating together after winning a huge tournament. The bad was losing the championship game to your biggest rival and then blaming each other and getting mad at each other but making up. The ugly for me was losing two of those sisters/teammates who I was closest with to car accidents when they were just 18 years old. That was a turning point to realize how short life really is and that who you choose to do life with matters,” Stiffler said.

After her teammates’ accident, she had realized how short life really is and that who you choose to do life with matters.

“What impact do they have on your life? Every single person that was a part of my softball life plays an important role in the woman and coach I am today because with every play call I make or every hard discussion I have to have I always hear their voices in my head,” Stiffler said.

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For Stiffler, having a strong mentality as a player on and off the field is important when playing softball. 

“Watching this team and this program learn and grow from the knowledge our coaching staff passes onto them, I am excited to see our program as a whole grow and flourish. Not a lot of people believe Altoona softball can do it, but I know we can. It’s all about the mindset; I am the kind of coach that likes to spoil her players, I am a big gift giver! With that being said, we are excited to see these girls light up with excitement over all the new additions to our team swag and mentality this year,” Stiffler said.

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According to senior softball player, Madison Zimmerer, she feels that Stiffler has influenced and taught her that softball is more than just about the game.

“She has shown that softball is also about growing into a woman and believing in ourselves. I really think she belongs here; she’s made this team into a family. I hope she stays for a long time and grows this program into something big,” Zimmerer said.