Former football players visit Hampton to celebrate Coach Shafrath's Hall of Fame induction

Friends, family, and former students flocked to Rustic Brew on Saturday, October 16 to celebrate Coach Jerry Shafrath's entry into the Iowa Football Hall of Fame.

"Today is a special day because we're able to celebrate with a lot of the people that made it possible for me," said Shafrath. "It's awesome to see a lot of people that you haven't seen in a while."

Last year, Shafrath was nominated for entry in the Hall of Fame for his 31 year career coaching high school football.

Shafrath began coaching at CWL High School in 1984, where he stayed until 1988. After two years in Illinois, Shafrath returned to Iowa in 1990 to coach in Cedar Falls before moving to Hampton-Dumont in 1994, where he stayed until his retirement in 2016.

Over the decades, Shafrath has coached countless players and led them through many memorable games. On Sunday, many of those players came back to celebrate their former coach's induction.

"He made a big impact on us, that's for sure," said Johnny Robb, a CWL Class of 88 graduate that was among the first players Shafrath coached.

Robb and fellow classmate, Keith Wilhite, came from the Des Moines area to reconnect with their former coach and reminisce over their high school football days.

"He brought a winning attitude and a winning outlook," said Robb.

"That positive influence has informed us to this day," said Wilhite. "I can still hear is voice in my head some days."

Shafrath's influence was consistent throughout the decades as former players from different schools and different generations shared an appreciation for their coach and the life lessons he implemented on them.

"It's cool being coached by a hall of fame coach," said Josh Knipfel, a 2016 H-D graduate that was among the last to be coached by Shafrath. "He was very positive. … He taught me a lot about working hard and pushing forward."

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the usual ceremonies and celebrations that would have come with Shafrath's induction into the Iowa Football Hall of Fame, however the belated open house event was a successful alternative, allowing Shafrath a full day of getting to reconnect with the countless students he has coached over the decades.

"The big thing is to see the development of all the kids," said Shafrath." "It's nice to catch up with what they're doing. I'm lucky to have such good people."