LINN — Jason Dudenhoeffer isn’t measuring the success of his first summer as Linn High School’s head softball coach by wins and losses. He’s measuring it by progress.

Whether it’s teaching proper cutoff responsibilities, evaluating players at multiple positions, or simply giving athletes opportunities to learn through game situations, Dudenhoeffer has spent the offseason laying the groundwork for the Wildcats’ upcoming season after taking over the program following Ryan Rost’s resignation.

“Once I heard Rost was resigning, I just went and talked to Mr. Cobb,” said Dudenhoeffer of Athletic Director Dr. Billy Cobb. “One thing led to another, and here I am.”

Dudenhoeffer is no stranger to Linn, graduating from the school in 1997 and raising two kids who played sports. His son, Austin, is a recent graduate and his daughter, Elli, is playing again this year.

He credits former coach Dan Campbell, who has come out of retirement to take the helm of the Fatima softball team this fall. A companion piece on the Lady Comets’ summer experience accompanies this story.

For Dudenhoeffer, coaching has always been part of his adult life, not only with his own kids, but many others over the years in various age groups.

He agreed to coach Austin’s summer team, and during one game, Campbell was there to observe after being hired to coach the high school team.

“He watched the game and then asked if I would be his assistant,” Dudenhoeffer explained.

He agreed, with the hope that Campbell would stay at Linn until Austin graduated. “He had three coaches in a year and a half,” Dudenhoeffer said. “I wanted some consistency.”

The timing of the coaching change prevented Linn from attending every summer team camp it originally hoped to enter, but the Wildcats still competed in camps at Centralia and Columbia, where the emphasis wasn’t on the final score.

“It honestly wasn’t for winning and losing,” Dudenhoeffer said. “It was more to work on things because it’s not a true game.”

The camp format placed runners on base, beginning with the second inning, creating situations that allowed players to practice defensive decisions they might otherwise see only occasionally during the regular season.

“It gives you different perspectives of how to play,” Dudenhoeffer said. “There were many instances where they put a runner on third base. It was the perfect time to play for the play at the plate and get some reps. That’s what summer is all about.”

In addition to the two team camps, Linn conducted 10 open field sessions throughout the summer, with several more scheduled before official practices begin in August.

Those workouts have given Dudenhoeffer valuable opportunities to evaluate a roster that currently includes just 13 players.

With limited numbers, versatility has become essential.

Several athletes have rotated through multiple positions as the coaching staff works to determine the best lineup entering the fall season.

We need to see what positions people can play,” said Dudenhoeffer.

The Wildcats return five seniors, a group Dudenhoeffer has known for years. “The group of seniors right now, I coached them from about five years old up through high school,” he said. “I think that made it pretty easy for that group.”

Five freshmen also join the varsity roster this season, giving the first-year head coach a mix of experience and youth to develop.

Perhaps no area has received more attention this summer than defensive fundamentals.

Dudenhoeffer repeatedly emphasized proper cutoff responsibilities and positioning, acknowledging that changing habits takes repetition.

“We’re working toward changing up how the cutoff situations have worked in the past,” he said. “I’m trying to get them to do it how it’s supposed to be done.”

The process hasn’t always been smooth.

“It’s taken some hollers,” he said with a smile, “but they’re getting it. They’re figuring it out.”

He believes the extra work will strengthen the Wildcats defensively once the season begins. “I think our defense is going to be pretty solid again,” Dudenhoeffer added.

Several players are also gaining valuable experience through travel softball, although not always at the positions they’ll play for Linn.

“They’re getting reps,” Dudenhoeffer said. “They’re just not always the reps I’d like them to get.”

Even so, every inning provides another opportunity for growth.

“We still have a little bit of learning to do on a couple different positions,” he said. “It’s probably going to take game experience.”

While preparing the varsity team remains the primary focus, Dudenhoeffer also spent part of the summer investing in the future of the program.

Linn hosted a youth softball camp for fifth- through eighth-grade players, attracting 15 participants despite conflicts with vacations, church camps and other summer activities.

One moment from that camp continues to stand out.

Following a community picnic, a young camper quietly waited until Dudenhoeffer finished talking with someone else before approaching him.

“When I asked if I could help her, she said, ‘I just wanted to come in here and thank you for having that camp. I really enjoyed it,’” he recalled.

Another parent later contacted him after a daughter attended a tryout. The youngster successfully laid down a bunt, a skill she had learned during camp.

“It was pretty cool to hear kids enjoying it and learning stuff at the same time,” Dudenhoeffer said.

That balance between instruction and enjoyment reflects the atmosphere he hopes to build throughout the program.

“We tell them mistakes are going to happen,” Dudenhoeffer said. “We’ve got to keep mentally reactive.”

He wants players to understand that mistakes are part of learning, provided they continue improving.

“The coaches might get onto you,” he said, recalling advice shared with one of his players. “But at the end of the day, they’re still your coaches, and they still care about you.”

He is joined by assistant coaches Lindsay Brandt and Hailey Dudenhoeffer, both of whom played and graduated from LHS.

The Wildcats will also benefit from continued improvements to the softball facilities.

Dudenhoeffer praised the renovated dugouts and the district’s ongoing investment in the program.

“The dugouts are huge for us,” he said. “It keeps the players more focused on the game.”

He also credited the district for providing the equipment needed to maintain the field.

“The school is putting a lot of money and effort into it,” Dudenhoeffer said.

With official practices still weeks away, Dudenhoeffer knows there is work left to do. Players are still learning new positions, defensive concepts continue to evolve, and the roster remains a work in progress.

Still, he believes the Wildcats have made the kind of progress summer is intended to produce.

“We’re happy where we’re at,” Dudenhoeffer said. “We’ll keep working, keep teaching and figure out what works best for our team.”