Vic Grider to coach South Pittsburg Pirates football again

Vic Grider.
Vic Grider.
photo Vic Grider.

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. — It was two weeks ago, as school administrators began discussing potential football coaching candidates shortly after Tim Moore resigned, that longtime assistant David Hale finally said what many were already thinking.

Hale went to athletic director Vic Grider's office, closed the door and spoke from his heart.

“I told him that this program is his family's legacy,” said the emotional Hale, who played for the late Don Grider, Vic's father, in the 1970s and later worked as an assistant for both the elder Grider and his son. “His daddy helped build this program and Vic carried it on for years after that. I told him the program was hurting right now and he's the only one who can fix it.

“I just told him what he already knew and what I think everybody in the community wanted.”

After brushing away tears, Grider, who had vowed not to coach again at his alma mater when he resigned two years ago, knew he would have to break that promise to himself.

He made it official Tuesday morning in a meeting with the team at the school.

“My feelings for this program are what brought me back,” Grider said. “We're hurt right now but we're not dead. We will get it fixed.”

Grider was head coach at SPHS for 16 years before resigning after the 2012 season. During that time he won at least 8 games 14 times in compiling a 162-43 overall record, claiming three Class 1A state championships and finishing state runner up twice. He also coached 46 all-state players and 14 Mr. Football finalists.

At the time of his resignation the Pirates had known only three head coaches in 50 years, starting with Grider's father who won 192 games from 1969-92, including a state title. Danny Wilson took over the program from 1993-96, also winning a state title with Vic Grider as his defensive coordinator.

But after decades of consistency, Grider's return marks the third head coach for the program in less than three years. Current Marion County coach Ricky Ross took over for Grider in January of 2013 but resigned just two months later. Tim Moore, also an SPHS alum, was hired shortly after Ross's resignation and turned a tough situation into a runner-up finish in 2013. The Pirates finished 6-6 last year, losing in the second round and Moore resigned two weeks after the season.

South Pittsburg is the only school in the state to have played for a championship in all six decades since the TSSAA began its playoff format. The Pirates have won more state championships (5) and appeared in more title games (12) than any other program in the area, and their 72 playoff wins are 20 more than Dalton, which is the next closest area team.

“Obviously I'm excited and I think a lot of other people in our community are too,” said Wilson, now the school principal. “There are no words to express how big this is not just for our football team and our school but for our whole town. When you talk about the excitement around small town football, that energy feeds the whole community and that's what we're getting back with Vic.”

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.

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