Stephen Hood didn’t need to say much to make an impression.

Those who coached him at Panther Valley remember a quiet presence — dependable, steady and respectful — someone who showed up every day and made those around him better, not just on the field, but as people.

Hood, a 2024 Panther Valley graduate and sophomore at Kutztown University, died Dec. 23. While the loss has been deeply felt throughout the community, those who knew him say his legacy is defined by far more than athletics or accomplishments.

Panther Valley athletic director Kristin Black remembers Hood as someone who consistently carried himself with maturity and courtesy, traits that reflected both his upbringing and the way he approached everything he did.

That respect extended into his daily habits.

“He was always the first one in the gym and usually the last one to leave,” Black said. “Whether it was basketball or baseball, he showed up every day and worked.”

Hood also shared the field and court with his older brother, Bradley Hood, a connection that further strengthened the close-knit culture within the Panthers’ program.

Panther Valley baseball coach Rich Evanko had known Hood since he was in middle school, and watched him grow into a leader within one of the most connected groups the program has seen.

“He was a special kid — not only a special athlete, but a special person, too,” Evanko said. “You could see it early on.”

Evanko described Hood as part of a rare bond between the Panthers’ 2023 and 2024 graduating classes — a group that valued accountability, togetherness and doing things the right way.

“They created a winning culture, but it wasn’t about personal accomplishments,” Evanko said. “They did things together, and the success came because of that.”

That closeness extended beyond games and practices.

“Practice would end and they didn’t want to leave,” Evanko said. “They just wanted to keep playing and keep being together.”

Hood helped Panther Valley capture the District 11 Class 3A baseball championship in 2022, and was a major contributor on the field. As a sophomore that season, he made 12 appearances and started nine games on the mound, posting a 2.55 ERA in a team-high 57 2/3 innings pitched, and batted .361 with a team-high 24 RBIs, eight doubles, a triple and two home runs. As a junior, Hood hit .463 with 27 RBIs, five doubles and five home runs, while recording a 1.45 ERA with eight starts and 53 innings pitched as the team went 21-3.

Hood also reached a major milestone on the basketball court. In January 2024, he scored his 1,000th career point while playing under longtime Panthers coach Pat Crampsie, becoming one of only a handful of boys players in Panther Valley history to reach the mark.

His influence extended well beyond statistics and wins.

“Stephen had the ability to unite everybody,” Evanko said. “And he was never too big for anyone.”

Black echoed that sentiment, noting Hood’s natural connection with younger athletes.

“Even when youth kids were in the gym, he was the first to go over and help them — lifting them up, talking to them, picking up a ball with them,” she said. “He was always willing to help.”

Those same qualities followed Hood to the collegiate level. A business administration major at Kutztown, he was working to make an impact on the mound during his second year with the Golden Bears after missing time due to injury.

“Stephen was an incredible young man who meant so much to our program,” Kutztown baseball coach Eric Folmar said in a release. “He was deeply loved by his teammates, and he earned that respect every day through his character, work ethic and the way he cared for others. He was a great person and an even greater teammate — someone who lifted those around him and represented our team with pride.”

The response to Hood’s passing has extended far beyond Panther Valley.

“The outpouring we’ve received from other schools, athletic directors, coaches and officials across District 11 has been overwhelming,” Black said. “That says a lot about the impact Stephen had beyond our community.”