It’s hard to imagine, in the brisk, chill air that is so common to our valley this time of year, that a “warmer-weather climate” is what brought Head Softball Coach Jan Schefkowitz to Cal State Stanislaus 17 years ago.
Entering her 17th season at the helm of the Warriors Softball program, Schefkowitz lends her impressive expertise. During her first six years at Cal State Stanislaus, she spent her time as both head coach for volleyball and softball. Since 1998,
Schefkowitz has been able to channel all her attention into her true love — softball — and has recorded the second-highest winning average among softball coaches for the University in the past 25 years. In 2007, she led the team to a new level, as the Warriors won the NCAA West Regional championship and advanced to the NCAA National Championship tournament for the first time.
It was at the regional tournament at Warrior Field when the team elevated the program to new heights under the guidance of Schefkowitz. Her team defended home field to win the West and representing the region at the national tournament in Akron, Ohio, before bowing out with a semifinal loss to top-ranked Columbus State.
When it was all said and done, the Warriors turned in the winningest season in history with a 50-20 mark. Schefkowitz and her assistants were named the NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
Last season, Schefkowitz again led the Warriors to a NCAA Division II West Regional appearance — the program’s third consecutive trip and fifth over all — after winning the program’s first California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament championship.
In 2006, the Warriors appeared in their third Regional appearance and went 2-2 in the tournament with an impressive upset win over San Francisco State to fend off elimination. The team also boasted its second All-American with outfielder Megan Law taking third-team honors, as well as the CCAA Freshman of the Year in Meghan Franksen.
Schefkowitz was named Coach of the Year by her peers in the CCAA in 2000, after taking the Warriors to the NCAA Championship with a 44-20 record. She continued the team’s success in 2001 with another 40-win season and the team’s second postseason appearance.
After graduating in 1978 with a B.S. in physical education from the State University of New York at Brockport, Schefkowitz obtained her master’s in physical education from San Francisco State while helping to lead the softball team to the AIAW Division III College World Series in 1981 as an assistant coach. She also made a coaching stop at Chicago State University before returning to New York to coach seven years at SUNY-Cortland, winning three conference championships and earning three coach-of-the-year honors. In 1992, Schefkowitz found a home in the small but ever-growing city of Turlock.
Schefkowitz was a four-sport varsity letter winner in high school. She also played on the San Jose Rainbows professional softball team.
