After 14 state titles, Davidshofer headed to Hall

CASCADE -- Fifteen years ago, Bob Davidshofer was named the national cross country coach of the year.

"This," he said, "is even a step up from that."

Davidshofer, who has coached Cascade High School to 14 state cross country championships -- eight girls, six boys -- will be inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame next Tuesday in Grand Rapids, Mich.

"I'm very elated, surprised and humbled by this," Davidshofer said Thursday. "It's certainly an honor that I appreciate. As you go through a career, you don't think anything like this is ever going to happen."

Davidshofer, 72, has coached cross country 48 years at Cascade. A Cherokee native, he graduated from Loras College in 1961.

"One thing about Cascade, young athletes have been very interested in running here," he said.

A number of Davidshofer's former runners have gone on to coach. Davidshofer still jogs somewhat, but no longer runs competitively.