TRUMBULL—Jacqui Sheftz, who coached at Masuk and Trumbull for almost 30 years, winning state softball titles at both schools, has retired as a varsity coach.
Sheftz, who just completed her 10th year at Trumbull and led the senior-less Eagles to the FCIAC semifinals this past spring, confirmed she has stepped down in an interview with the CT Softball Blog.
“It’s over,” Sheftz said. “This is a decision that doesn’t come easy, but I’m at a point in my life where I need to create more space and time with my own kids. I want to be more present for them now, just like I always tried to be fully present for all the student-athletes that I’ve coached over the years.”
Sheftz, who began her coaching career in 1995 as a sub-varsity volleyball coach at Masuk, her alma mater, posted a career record of 454-154 on the softball diamond.
She spent two years at Staples before making the jump back to Masuk, where she led the Panthers to three state titles, six SWC league crowns, and, along with pitchers like Rachele Fico and Tatum Buckley, helped lay the groundwork for the program becoming one of the best high school softball programs in state history. She also coached field hockey at Masuk.
Following the 2014 season, Sheftz left Masuk and took a year off before taking over at Trumbull in 2016.
By the end of the 2017 season, the Eagles were state champions for the first and only time in program history. Trumbull also made the state final the following season but fell to Amity in the title tilt.
For Sheftz, however, coaching was never about the wins or the trophies.
“When I look back, and I’ve had so many days and moments to think about, I realize it’s not about the trophies and the titles,” she said. “The times I’ll remember the most are the practices, the laughs in the dugouts, the growth I witnessed season after season.”
And, she added, she was always blessed in having a hand in helping young girls become incredible young woman through the world of sports; something that became even more important to her over the years.
“Softball was my platform, but my purpose was always bigger than that,” Sheftz said. “It was to help young women believe in themselves and become leaders in life.”
That is something Sheftz still plans on doing in the future.
While she is leaving the varsity game behind, Sheftz will keep her infamous golden coaching shoes on the field in other ways.
In addition to doing private lessons, Sheftz remains the Director of Player Development for the Trumbull-based CT Timberwolves travel program.
“I’m still going to continue to do that,” she said. “It’s smaller scale and it will allow me to be home more.”
What she will not be doing, however, is coaching her own daughters in their own respective softball careers.
“I think I’d be a terrible coach for my kids, and I mean that in the sweetest and nicest way,” Sheftz said with a laugh. “My oldest daughter was playing softball last year and I mentioned something about coaching her in the fall and she said, ‘Don’t worry, mom, I want a real coach.’”
Even from outside the fence, spending time with her girls no matter the field they are on, is now her top priority.
“Time is a thief,” Sheftz said. “I just didn’t want to miss any more art shows, and I want to be there for them.”
Sheftz admitted she did go back and forth about staying in the game one more year, especially given the fact that Trumbull made a remarkable postseason run last spring with a team that had no seniors.
At the same time, however, Sheftz—a stickler for the little things in all the programs she has coached—stepped back and took a bigger-picture approach to the time frame as it was laid out in front of her.
“This program is in a great place,” she said. “I know it will continue and thrive because of the heart and dedication of the people in it, the student-athletes. I was going back and forth about it being the end of this year or next year, and I thought if I did wait until next year, that would be selfish. I’d be setting up the next coach for failure.”
She also thought about this rising senior class.
“This senior group and I have worked so hard on how to lead the right way,” Sheftz said. “I feel like they have their wings and it’s time for them to fly.”
Those who coached against Sheftz always knew they’d have to have their players on top of their game.
“I enjoyed coaching against Jacqui more than anyone else because of the challenge it provided,” said Fairfield Ludlowe coach Adam Laliberte, who helped lead the Falcons to back-to-back state titles in 2023-24. “You knew she was prepared and if you weren’t equally prepared you were going to get beat. The FCIAC has lost one of its great coaches and won’t be the same.”
Sheftz graduated from Masuk in 1993 and went to Western Connecticut to play softball.
A catcher in high school, she played first base at WCSU and in the fall still found time to dip her toes into the coaching world when former Masuk athletic director Dave Strong hired her to coach with the Panthers’ JV volleyball team.
“For the past 30 years, I just wanted to be half the coach Dave Strong was,” Sheftz said. “He set the bar so high for me and every year I was just trying to work my way up the ladder to try to become what he was for me.”
She coached softball at Masuk from 1998-99 and after a couple of years at Staples returned to the Monroe-based school in 2003, staying through the 2014 season.
In addition to the three state titles, Masuk also made seven state semifinal appearances, as well.
The program has since gone on to win the last seven CIAC Class L championships.
Thanks to her playing days at Masuk and her coaching career at her alma mater, Sheftz has been named to the Masuk Sports Hall of Fame, as well.
For now, however, the ride is over. The field is there for somebody else.
“It’s bitter-sweet,” Sheftz said. “I leave the field with a full heart and immense pride in what we built together at both programs, and that’s on and off the field. For every player that ever put a jersey on for me, I thank them. They taught me as much as I ever could have taught them.”
Trumbull athletic director Mike King was not available for comment as of this posting.
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