Bob Shoemaker to be inducted into hall of fame Former A-JCHS softball coach

Former Anna-Jonesboro Community High School softball coach Bob Shoemaker will be inducted into the Illinois Coaches Association Softball Hall of Fame at a banquet scheduled in Bloomington on Feb. 22.

“It’s quite an honor,” Shoemaker said. “I’m up there with a lot of very good coaches.”

Shoemaker coached a A-J from 1979 through 1996. He was an assistant coach the first year and took over head coaching duties the next season. He was off for four years and came back to coach again in 2000 and held the post until his retirement from teaching in 2008.

During his 24-year career as head coach, he became A-J’s all-time softball record holder with 315 wins, four conference championships, and three regional titles.

His Lady Wildcat teams reached the regional championship game 13 times as well as playing three times in the sectional.

His teams also finished no lower than second place in conference eight different times.

His teams have won five tournaments championships and 95 former players have been named all-conference.

Twenty five have been named  All-South and four were named All-State by the Illinois Coaches Association and Chicago Tribune.

He also coached the Anna Junior High School softball team from 1991 to 1995. His 1995 team won the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association Class l state championship.

With the 29 wins recorded by his junior high teams, Shoemaker finished with a career total of 344 softball wins while coaching in 601 games.