Longtime area coach Andy Grogg passes away

NEW RICHMOND: Longtime area football coach Andy Grogg died Tuesday morning after complications following heart surgery.

Grogg, an assistant coach at Wyoming East for the last two years under younger brother Kevin, was 53.

The Wyoming County native had been at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va. since last week.

Grogg was also the head coach at Greenbrier East for two years and before that was a longtime assistant coach at Riverside, DuPont and Herbert Hoover. He was also the head coach at Baileysville in the mid-80s.

"It's a real shock," Wyoming East Principal Barry Smith said Tuesday night. "For our football program, it's a tremendous loss. As a friend - I've known Andy for 35, 40 years - it's a tremendous loss. And for the students overall, it's a tremendous loss."

On Tuesday afternoon, the team voted to have practice, and Andy Grogg's son, Thad, took his position at quarterback. The junior is a returning first-team all-state signalcaller.

Kevin Grogg and Thad had returned from Charlottesville earlier in the afternoon.

"Kevin kind of set the tone at a team meeting about getting back (to work); I think that's what he and Thad both wanted, and the team jumped on board," Wyoming East assistant coach Gary Poindexter said. "Considering everything, I guess it was a good practice. Thad seemed to be in his element on the field. I think he probably realized it's what Andy would have wanted. Andy really loved football. We hope this is the first step in the healing process. It's going to take time."

Smith said Kevin Grogg called and it was his wish that the scheduled game with Scott Friday night go on.

"Kevin told me that he wanted to play, that it was probably best for the team," Smith said. "He said they'd have to face it at some point and it was best to play."

Andy Grogg was described by friends as "the life of the party."

"He was just a great guy to be around," Poindexter said. "He brought such a passion and energy to everything he did, whether it be a game or a a crowd. He had a charisma that very few people have."

"I remember when I was in eighth grade, and Andy must have been in ninth or 10th grade and living out at Wyco," Smith said. "Obviously, neither of us could drive. We'd thumb out to Wyco - you could do that back then - and I'd stay the night. Andy was always the center of attention. He enjoyed that. He was a guy with a big heart and he always had a story to tell about his experienced. He will be missed."