After 25 years of coaching, Golden Valley High’s softball coach Ross Cruickshanks is retiring

Veteran Golden Valley High School head softball coach Ross Cruickshanks has retired after coaching sports for 25 years. He is currently 61 years old.

“It was hard, and my own daughters didn’t believe me that I would do it, until they saw the job posting,” Cruickshanks said.

Growing up with four brothers, Cruickshanks started playing sports at a young age. He has memories of playing wiffle ball in his neighbor’s front yard.

He played baseball, basketball, and football at Merced High; and, later played basketball for Merced College.

Cruickshanks got his first coaching job in 1982, helping out his former high school basketball coach.

He coached a couple of years at the high school and middle school level, but it wasn’t until Matt Thissen, who was head coach for women’s varsity basketball at the time, reached out to Cruickshanks about an assistant coaching position.

After saying yes in 2003, he has been coaching at Golden Valley ever since.

“Sports has just been something I was always attracted to and when I got the taste of coaching basketball, I enjoyed it,” Cruickshanks said. “I really got hooked on coaching because I’ve had great athletes that were just great kids and made it easy.”

Cruickshanks made the switch to softball when he was approached by Kurt Kollmann, the athletic director at the time. The softball team needed a new coach. Not ready to step away from basketball, Cruickshanks agreed to coach the junior varsity team.

He coached JV for a year and moved up to assist the varsity softball team with Sam Croninger. In 2011, Cruickshanks became head coach.

As head coach, he had an overall record of 155-148, earned two Central California Conference championships, and took the Cougars to their deepest playoff run in 2019 when they reached the section championship game.

He was happy with a loss if “we played our best”

“One thing I always tried to tell the girls, it was never about winning all the time. It was just about enjoying it and playing hard and you know whatever happens happens,” Cruickshanks said. “I would be happy with a loss if it was just that we played our best.”

Former player Shyan Crutcher, who played from 2011-15, describes Cruickshanks as “another dad to her.” She called him reliable, supportive, kind-hearted, and her rock during her time at Golden Valley.

Looking back at her favorite memories, she shared the car rides to away games were always her favorite.

“I was just thankful for the four years that I had with him. The four years that I was there it wasn’t the best softball that I’ve seen, we struggled during our games,” Crutcher said. “But regardless he was always there just as a supportive person, and as a coach he figured out a way to help me better my skills with what we had.”

Madison Stokes, who helped the team to their two CCC titles, had coached with Cruickshanks last season.

Through this experience, Stokes said, she was able to see all the behind-the-scenes work coaches go through.

“It was so crazy going from being a player to being a coach, it makes me appreciate coaches a lot more,” Stokes said. “They do a lot more behind the scenes then what people know, and props to Ross because he’s been doing it for so long and I couldn’t imagine.”

Stokes described Cruickshanks as someone who is very passionate about what he does, always making sure the girls got what they needed.

One memory that sticks out in her mind was back in 2019 after the Cougars’ tough, section championship losses. Stokes remembers Cruickshanks being there for the team during those emotional times.

Her time at Golden Valley helped her become a leader not only in her softball career but in the world as well, she said.

“I just hope he knows that he’s definitely left an impact on all of us girls that he’s coached and also on the school,” Stokes said. “He was a great, great softball coach and it’s going to be really hard to replace him and he’s a great guy.”

“I hope his retirement from this treats him well. He did a great job as a head coach for Golden Valley.”

Retirement means time with daughters, grandchildren

Cruickshanks said retirement was his idea, not Golden Valley’s. He said coaching there was a great experience, and that the administration and staff treated him well.

What he will miss most about coaching is the relationships not only with his athletes but seeing the lasting friendships with players. He will also miss van rides and the youthful energy he got from game days.

“It was the hardest decision of my life to step down at this time just because of the pride I had for Golden Valley…the relationships I had with my (athletic directors) and my principals and vice principals has been great.” Cruickshanks said.

“I wouldn’t have coached this long if it wasn’t enjoyable and I’ve been really lucky with the athletes I’ve had through the years.”

Unsure what is next for him, Cruickshanks said he will continue supporting Golden Valley through volunteer work as well as attend former players’ games. He plans to travel and spend time with his daughters and grandchildren.

“I hope to be remembered as fair and that [players] enjoyed playing for me…and that they have fond memories of playing softball at Golden Valley,” Cruickshanks said.