One of Sheridan and Wyoming’s most respected and successful basketball coaches, Clayton “Bruce” Hoffman, passed away on April 21st at 88.
He coached at several places, starting at the University of Wyoming (1960–1961), then moving to Evanston High School (1961–1965), followed by a long and successful run at Sheridan College (1965–1999), and finishing his career at Sheridan High School (2001–2007).
Over the years, Coach Hoffman built an impressive career record of 712 wins and 434 losses at Sheridan College.
Further, he was named NJCAA Region IX Coach of the Year five times and led the Sheridan College Generals to Region IX titles in 1975 and 1977.
Scott Powers, who knew the coach, shared that although he hadn’t been active on Facebook for almost a year, he felt the need to return and say something important after hearing some heartbreaking news.
…This morning Coach Bruce Hoffman passed away. Coach’s name basically speaks for itself in my opinion he was a true legend to the Sheridan Community, the Sheridan College Community and in particular the coaching community. He gave an undersized and unathletic kid an opportunity at SC and luckily I ran with it. I parlayed it into an excellent education, a great life long basketball experience and unreal networking avenue. It is truly impossible to put into words what Coach Hoffman meant to me. He was a great man and I was lucky he gave me an opportunity. He will be missed and I want to send prayers out to his family
Scott Powers
RIP Coach
Bruce Hoffman’s Beloved Wife, Penny Francis Hoffman, Took Her Last Breath In 2021
Bruce Hoffman and his wife, Penelope “Penny” Francis Hoffman, shared a long and loving life in Sheridan, Wyoming.
Penny worked for over 30 years with Dr. James and Dr. Hugh Batty.
During that time, she met Bruce, the love of her life. The two were married on July 29, 1967, and built a strong family together.
Bruce and Penny shared more than 50 years of marriage with their four children—Pat, Rob, Tempe, and Todd—their grandchildren, siblings, and extended family.
Sadly, Penny passed away peacefully at home on September 11, 2021, at 84.
Penny was by Bruce’s side through all the proud moments of his career.
She was there to celebrate when he was inducted into the NJCAA Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995 and again when he entered the Wyoming Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
In 1999, Bruce had the honor of serving as the Head Coach for the U.S. NJCAA All-Star team.
That same year, a huge milestone was reached when the Golden Dome at Sheridan College was named after him- a lasting tribute to his impact on the school and community.
Penny stood beside him every step of the way, sharing in the achievements and memories they created together.
The Hoffman family visited the Dome mostly because it wasn’t just a gym—it was a place filled with deep personal meaning and memories spanning generations.
My kids and my Dad last week. The Dome means so much to my family. Hell, I was practically raised there. It’s the place where I learned to appreciate people from other places, races, and cultures. It’s a place of health, education, & competition. So many amazing wins and some gut wrenching losses. It’s where my friends Andy Romney, Shawn Grey, and i Learned all the best cuss words and it’s where I got to hang with the players I idolized from the Generals. My first and only real brush with the law happened there when the campus police handcuffed me to a toilet. I miss seeing my father coach at practice and games and I miss sitting with my Mom in the spot she sat in for every game.
-Todd Hoffman
Getting to go shoot around with my dad and my kids last week is definitely my best memory from the Dome.
It breaks my Dad’s heart to see it so empty and unused. Ending the Athletics Programs at Sheridan College was a bad move, a knee-jerk reaction to the sudden and very real budget crisis for the State of Wyoming. There were better options to reduce the college budget. SC is the only Community College in the state to end Athletics. The Dome and the Athletics programs are a big part of what made SC special to so many people from all over the planet. Now it’s just a school, and that is not good enough.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- In 1986, Bruce was part of the coaching staff for the U.S. Olympic Festival team, which went on to win a gold medal.
- Later, in 1999, he served as the head coach for the U.S. NJCAA All-Star Game, another major highlight of his career.
- Bruce continued to serve the education system outside of coaching by joining the Sheridan College Board of Trustees in 2000.
