Matt Grohal was not ready for his coaching career to be over at Windber. However, following a hazing incident involving members of the football team, Grohal was essentially pushed out the door at his alma mater and a place he spent 15 years as head varsity football coach.
After a winter of not knowing what would come next, Grohal finally found his answer. He was approved by the Forest Hills school district as an assistant to first-year coach Tom Blanchetti.
“I got approved two Thursdays ago,” Grohal said. “I knew if I didn’t coach this year, I would probably never coach again. I wanted to go somewhere. I had several opportunities, but when (Tom) Blanchetti got hired, it was a no-brainer when he called me.”
Blanchetti was on Grohal’s staff at Windber for seven seasons, serving as a defensive assistant. Now, Grohal will call the plays as a member of Blanchetti’s staff.
“It was a weird offseason. I’ve actually done a lot of stuff around the house that I normally don’t do, and got to be a better husband and father,” Grohal said. “Every day after school for the past 20-plus years, I’ve been in the weight room, on the field, setting up fundraisers and doing everything else a head coach does.
“Coaching is a way of life, so you miss it. To go to Forest Hills, which is arguably one of the best football programs in the area, historically, is special. What Don Bailey did, and Justin Myers after him, it was a great opportunity to go to a storied program. It is super exciting.”
Some of the Windber coaching band is getting back together. Former Windber assistant Matt Waite, who was on Grohal’s staff for 12 years, will also head to Forest Hills.
“Being around the kids these first couple days has been fantastic,” Grohal said. “The kids and the administration have been great. To coach in the LHAC is a huge challenge. You have to put the work in. It’s a bit different than coaching in the WestPAC or Inter-County Conference. You better put your big boy pants on every Friday night in this league. I’ve always wanted to coach in this conference, and I am super excited for the opportunity.”
Grohal has 107 career varsity wins, along with a pair of District 5 titles. He’s ready to help Blanchetti continue the tradition at Forest Hills.
“We had discussions of (Blanchetti) taking over the Windber program. I just think that highly of him,” Grohal said. “He’s an excellent X’s and O’s football coach, but he’s a better person. There’s a genuine care for kids and that’s why we do it. It’s all about how we can help these kids eventually be better fathers, husbands and members of the community. Hopefully, I can give him at least seven years back and see where this thing goes.”
While the decision to leave Windber was not easy and still weighs heavy on his heart, Grohal is ready for a fresh start.
“Everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I wish Windber nothing but the best moving forward. I am a Windber guy forever, but this is a bigger and better opportunity for me. I am thankful to the administration at Forest Hills and the school board to come over here and help the kids in this school district.”
Play-calling has been something Grohal has thrived at. Not having the stresses of everything that goes into being a head football coach may bring out even more from Grohal as an offensive coordinator.
“Unless you’ve been in that role as head football coach, you have no idea how much work it entails beyond the field,” Grohal said. “I will do anything in my power to help Tom, but to not have that stress of setting up car washes, fundraisers, meeting with the Boosters and parents and selling the discount cards will be nice. It is a 12-month job. I can’t wait to have Saturdays off in the fall and watch my son, Ryan play at Washington and Jefferson.”
Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on X @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Blanchetti tabs former Windber coach Matt Grohal as new OC