Bath County High School Has New Football Coach

A new school year has started, summer is winding down, and the familiar sounds of football will fill the air in the Allegheny highlands. As the Bath County Chargers take the field this year they will do so under the leadership of new head coach Larry Grubbs. For the last 14 years Larry Grubbs has been a mainstay in Bath County football from coaching little league to the sidelines as an assistant coach for the varsity. I wanted to take some time and talk to Larry and allow him to reintroduce himself to the community in his own words.

“I teach electricity 1,2, and 3 here at the high school. I’m a member of the wind turbine team; we do more than electricity here at the high school.”

I asked Coach Grubbs about some of his early football influences.

“Bo Jackson was my idol. I was a little older when he was playing, but I liked football. Most people’s family played baseball, but we played football. As I got older and really started liking the game Bo Jackson was the man- BOTTOM LINE. I still like the Raiders to this day.”

“Mr. Howe, Bill Howe was my linebacker coach. He was a great man. He taught me a lot about the game, he made me a better man; he made me a tougher man. He helped you get a tough skin, but also manners.”

I asked Coach Grubbs about his football philosophy.

“I am a defensive guy. There’s no doubt about that around here. If we stop the other team we only need to score one more point than them. I want to go out and stop the other team and then score a few points. We only have to score once if they don’t score any.”

I asked Coach Grubbs what’s been the biggest difference since taking the head coaching job.

“Everything other than the x and o. When you’re an assistant it’s all about the x and o, but when you are the head coach it’s buying food for the concession stand, setting up fundraisers, to talking to mom and dad. Now, you’re the guy everyone comes to when things are bad or when things are good. That’s the biggest thing. It’s a lot more than the x and o.”

When asked what his long-term vision for the program was Coach Grubbs didn’t hesitate to reflect on the kids growth on and off the field.

“My goal for this team, and for years to come is to make them better men. I care about the wins. We don’t go out and practice, sweat, bleed, and cry for nothing, but when they leave me I want the parents, grandparents, or whoever it might be to say you’ve made my son or daughter a better person.”