Danny Krispinsky left a lasting impression on both of Ashland University's soccer programs – the men as a player, the women as a head coach.
Therefore, it is appropriate that something both teams use at Ferguson Field will be dedicated to him on Saturday (Oct. 1) afternoon between the two Eagle soccer matches against Trevecca Nazarene. The Danny Krispinsky Memorial Shelters will be dedicated at approximately 2 p.m., following the women's game.
Admission to both games is free.
Krispinsky passed away on Jan. 1, 2019, after a long battle with cancer. The soccer shelters project was led by his parents,
Steve and
Patti, and his wife of 5½ years,
Matti.
"Whenever I talked to Danny about items we needed to improve our program, he always mentioned the shelters," said Ashland Director of Athletics
Al King. "This is something that betters the playing and training experience for student-athletes. It's another step in making sure we have a first-class facility, a place student-athletes and coaches want to visit."
After earning two All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors as an Eagle men's soccer player (2004 second-team, 2005 first-team), Krispinsky spent five seasons as AU's women's soccer head coach, compiling a record of 58-25-9 (.679) and earning GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2016 prior to having to step aside due to his cancer fight. He posthumously was named 2018 Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Women's Coach of the Year.
"It's a constant reminder of what Danny was for the program, what he did for the program," said Ashland women's soccer head coach
Cayleb Paulino. "He was always trying to elevate the program. Something like this continues to separate our program and do huge things for us."
Current AU women's soccer graduate assistant coach
Deijah Swihart played for Krispinsky, and the shelters have extra meaning for her.
"Danny was a great guy, and he brought me in here," Swihart said. "Just having something to always constantly remind us of him is great."
Krispinsky also was an assistant coach for AU's men's team for two seasons, as well as a player and head coach for Ashland High School's boys soccer squad.
"I would have come across him a few times," said Ashland head men's soccer coach
Nick Roberts, formerly the head coach at Urbana. "If you look at what we have now…every time I drive down Broad Street, and you look at the field with the lights on, that's all completed. It looks like a proper soccer facility, like the European model."
"Danny's influence on soccer in this area can't be overstated," said King. "He made an impact on our men's and women's programs and he helped grow soccer in mid-Ohio. Having Danny be part of your program was a validation that you were serious about doing things the right way. It was a stamp of approval in Ashland, in college soccer circles and in the youth soccer community in Ashland and beyond.
"I'm pleased that his name lives on and everyone who comes to our facility will see it."
Ashland's women have made the NCAA Division II postseason three consecutive times (2018-19, 2021) since Krispinsky had to step aside and ultimately passed away – the culmination of what he worked to build within the program.
"That opportunity to sit with his dad and have lunch and talk about what Danny stood for and the things he wanted from the program," Paulino said, "he wanted the culture to be something that was getting better every year. And I think we continue to preach that piece with our players.
"One of the reasons why Danny had a lot of success when he was here, was that he changed the culture for the better and made tough decisions, knowing that the future of the program is bright. We're still continuing to benefit from that."
Swihart added, "He'd be super proud. I know when he was recruiting me, he was like, 'The next step is to make the NCAA tournament.' As a player and as an assistant now, we made it three years…and now, he'd would probably be like, 'all right, what's the next thing to do now to keep it going?'"
