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The high school softball program in Le Grand has had just just two coaches since 1982.
Both of them are now in the Hall of Fame.
East Marshall head softball coach Jary Hoskey was inducted into the Iowa Girls' Coaches Association's Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 26, during the IGCA All-Star Softball Series at Southeast Polk Junior High School in Pleasant Hill.
Hoskey has been the head coach at East Marshall for the last 19 seasons, where he's compiled a career record of 449-165 after taking the reins of the Mustangs from longtime head coach Mike Vint.
Vint, who began coaching at LDF in 1982, was the head coach through 2007, and his six-year assistant took over in 2008. Hoskey has had just one losing season with the Mustangs, who gave gotten to state six times during his tenure.
Vint was inducted into the IGCA in 1996, and Hoskey has too now 30 years later.
"It is an honor, that's for sure," Hoskey said. "I'm very happy and honored, but it was the kids. I've had great kids all the way through, and good kids bring success.
"Obviously with Mike Vint, I learned a lot from him. Mike was a very good teacher, very patient -- he had to be with me."
Hoskey said the Hall of Fame induction, which feels like a bit of a lifetime achievement award, has no bearing on his commitment to the East Marshall softball program he's been a part of for the last 25 years. His three daughters -- Kaci, Kylee and Kodie -- all played for him, and Kodie Sternhagen is now the head coach at North Iowa Cedar League competitor Grundy Center.
He considers having coached his daughters as one of his greatest blessings on the job.
"I've been fortunate to have enough kids that have the winning attutide and I enjoy the game, but my grandkids are getting up there," he said. "I had three daughters go through our program and I had them four or five years at a time, so that was 15 years that I certainly had an interest, but I enjoy the game and when you have great kids and productive kids, we've always had a winning attitude.
"We've had good coaches -- Greg Lee has been with me for 18 or 19 years -- and stability is always something you look for as well."
Hoskey's lone senior in 2026, Peyton Grabenbauer, played on one of the three teams in the IGCA All-Star Series prior to his Hall of Fame induction two Saturdays ago. He has coached in the All-Star event twice, was the NICL West Division Coach of the Year six times and the Co-Coach of the Year twice. He's been named District Coach of the Year four times, too.
Hoskey played fastpitch softball for a number of years as well despite losing part of his leg in a grain auger when he was 18. An amputee below the knee, Hoskey was convinced to play fastpitch by one of his good friends, the late Terry Metz, and eventually met his future wife Connie thanks to the game he loves.
"Playing fastpitch myself helped me in coaching," he said. "I enjoyed it, met a lot of nice people, met my wife at a fastpitch softball game, and it was fun."
Now 74, Hoskey knows the end of his coaching career is out there waiting for him, but he's not willing to quit on the game just yet.
"I guess I achieved my goal (of getting into the Hall of Fame), but I'm having fun doing it," he said, "so why not keep going, you know?"