Chardon High School - Chardon, OH
Number of years coaching:
14 years total, 4 years in college and now 10 years at Chardon.At a glance: Coach Mark Shafer creates a family atmosphere for his team and his athlete’s respond not only by performing on the track and cross country course, but also in the classroom and as community members. Not only does he use his personal funds to help support the team with uniforms, equipment and travel expenses, he also cofounded the Maple Leaf Track Club which holds fundraisers to benefit the Chardon program. In February, Chardon High School suffered a devastating loss when a school shooting rocked their campus. Coach Shafer became a rock for his team and helped them deal with the loss by providing consistency and normalcy during a very difficult time.
What piece of advice does Coach Shafer give an athlete having a bad day to inspire them?
"You have 5 minutes to sulk. Pick out 3 things you did well. Pick out one thing to work on."
What makes Coach Shafer Run Happy?
Being a part of a community of runners that is happy, caring, motivated and committed.
