Coach Grey

 It is strange how certain events hit you in different ways. Seeing Coach Grey’s obituary certainly caught me off guard.

In my beginning, Bob Grey was an Assistant football coach at Agua Fria Union High School, in Avondale AZ, my Senior year of High School. Young guy, he was responsible for ends and wide receivers. I had moved to Litchfield Park the prior spring, and wanted to still play football. I was a so-so athlete (mainly skinny and slow), but loved sports. Somehow I made the team. I played WR and Defensive End… but mostly I rode the bench and kick-off and Recieve teams. Coach Grey didn’t care, he ran us all like we were going to start, and just had a ton of energy, which was very infectious. 

In the spring I went out for the baseball team but didn’t make the cut. No big surprise. I had never heard of off-season ball back then, so I was definitely behind from the beginning. 

My goal was to attend the Air Force Academy, and while I was waiting to see if I got in, I wanted to stay in-shape. So, bummed I had been cut yet determined to do SOMETHING,  I approached Coach Grey and asked if I could join the Track team. I’m sure he knew exactly what he was getting, but thankfully, he was all for it. 

So, despite all logic, I became a track guy. 

He asked what event I wanted to do, so I said, 1/4 mile? You got it: Run, run, run, run, run! I loved it. 

On the way to our first big meet, some inter-conference extravaganza up in Flagstaff, Coach calls me to back of the bus, and tells me he needs a hurdler for the 330 intermediate high hurdles. I’m now the new face of Agua Fria high hurdles. Guess who has never jumped a hurdle in my entire life? Yep. Me. 

The race went as expected. Unknowingly, I went up against the State Champ. I will say, I did NOT trip or fall down over a hurdle. I DID just push the last one over on the way to the finish line…. Baby steps…

When I finished the race, the State Champ, a guy named Hightower, came up to me and congratulated me on finishing the race. He said, “you’ve never run hurdles before, have you?” I laughed, and replied, “No, that was my first time!” 

And that’s how I spent a couple of  months learning how to suck at hurdles! It was fun; very humbling, but quite the challenge. 

Not sure what Bob Grey was thinking, but for me it was one of those inflection moments. This was my new reality, and even if I lost every race for the rest of the year (I did), I would push myself to get better at every match and help the team as much as possible. 

That’s a life lesson. 

God Speed Sir! 🫡

******

BOB GREY OBITUARY

Robert James “Bob” Grey, 75, of Litchfield Park, Arizona, passed away on May 23, 2024.

Bob was born to Robert A. and Patricia Grey in Yosemite National Park on May 25, 1948, and was raised in Orange County, California, where his love for athletics grew. After graduating from Garden Grove High School in 1966, he attended Las Cruces Junior College in New Mexico. He then received a full ride scholarship to attend and play football at Northern Arizona University.  After several years working for APS as a service technician, Bob earned his master’s degree in education from NAU.

He was hired as a social studies teacher and coach at Agua Fria High School in Avondale, Arizona, in 1977. Coach Grey led successful football, golf, track and field, and softball teams. He accepted an administrative role as the Athletic Director, and he eventually became an associate principal at the school. He was named principal at Desert Edge High School culminating his nearly 40 years in education.

Bob thoroughly loved his time on the golf course, especially with his son, Brett; and he was very involved with Desert Springs Community Church. He was a member of the “Way Back ‘Jacks” group of former NAU football players, and one of his fondest memories was his trip to Canton, Ohio, to see Agua Fria High School student-athlete Randall McDaniel get inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bob is predeceased by his father, Robert A. Grey, and his mother, Patricia Grey. He was a loving husband to his wife, Bobbie, and he was an amazing father to his son, Brett, and his stepson, Clay. He was the ultimate dog dad. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Margheim, and his nieces and nephews Stacy Pitre, Scott (and Marianne) Margheim, Jessica Spaits, Crystal Bains, Nathan Conner, and John Zolyniak.

A memorial service will be held on August 3, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Desert Springs Community Church located at 14440 W Indian School Road, Goodyear, AZ. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Agua Fria High School.