Greg Waits named Grove City Dawgs football coach
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Greg Waits is looking forward to leading a turnaround for the Grove City football program.
Pending school board approval, Waits will be the Dawgs’ next coach, according to athletics director and assistant principal Kris Sander. Waits has served as an assistant coach in the program since 1999 and replaces Matt Shaul, who guided the team for two seasons.
“These guys know what I’m all about,” said Waits, who graduated from Grove City in 1980. “I’m just a competitive person and that’s the only thing I know how to do, just compete and just play hard and these kids have already bought in. The kids are ready to get rolling with this thing. They’re a great group of kids. I just love to be around them.
“I’m excited to get involved and do the right things for this program.”
Grove City is seeking its first winning season since 2013, when it finished 6-4.
“Working with Greg as a peer educator, a head coach and an assistant athletic director has given me a perspective of his passion and dedication to Grove City athletes and athletic programs,” Sander said. “As evidenced in our interview time with Greg, we are confident he will bring energy, passion and excitement to the football program. Greg’s community involvement and desire to win are just two small pieces of what he brings to the position.”
During the hiring process, Waits received backing from student-athletes, including junior running back/linebacker Christian Isaacs, who submitted emails to Sander supporting Waits for the position.
“We’re really excited,” Isaacs said. “We all know him pretty well, so we’re excited for him to be the head coach. He’s been here for a while, but he hasn’t had the opportunity to do things his way. I feel doing things his way will turn it around. ... You have to give coach Waits a chance.”
Waits, 59, is the former boys basketball coach at Grove City, stepping down following the 2017-18 season after 15 years to serve as athletics supervisor. He has since left that position.
He compiled a record of 208-136 overall and 99-83 in the OCC with five league titles during his basketball tenure at Grove City.
Under Shaul, the Dawgs went 5-15 overall and 3-7 in the OCC-Ohio.
“It stinks to see (Shaul) go,” Isaacs said. “He’s a really good coach. I like him as a coach, but at the same time, it’s good to get coach Waits in there and give him a chance to be the head coach and call the shots.”
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Central Ohio high school football: Waits named coach at Grove City
