Jeff Loughry

GROVE CITY — For Jeff Loughry, coaching high school basketball means more than just wins and championships.

Although Loughry-coached teams certainly have piled up a fair share of victories.

For Loughry it's about the text he received from former player Spencer Marnich Tuesday night, a day after Loughry stepped down as the Grove City High basketball coach.

Marnich, whose father died during his senior season in 2014-15, wrote: “I wanted to say thank you for everything you've done for me and Grove City. You've taught me so much more than just between the baselines. You gave me a friend when I needed one most. And more important, you were my father after my father passed. I love you like my dad, and nothing will break that bond. So thank you for everything. Especially just for being you.”

Loughry's voice cracked when reading that text.

But he felt stepping down as coach was the right thing to do.

“I want to focus on being a better parent and a better husband,” Loughry said.

Loughry has four children: Troy, 16, is a sophomore on the basketball team; Katie, 15, is a freshman on the volleyball team; Brett, 12, and Sarah, 11, who Loughry said loves basketball more than anyone in the family.

He said he felt he was missing too much of their activities.

That made his decision easy.

Well, as easy as it could be.

“It's never a good time to do it,” Loughry said.

He made it a point to tell his players first.

After Grove City lost in the first round of the PIAA 4A playoffs to Quaker Valley March 10, Loughry still didn't know he was going to step down.

He didn't know for sure until a week later when he told his wife, Debbie.

Sunday, he informed his players at the end-of-the-season banquet.

“The kids knew first and that was important to me that they were the first to know,” Loughry said.

“It's hard,” Loughry added. “Any time you end a relationship a certain way, it's difficult. Some kids were in disbelief. Some were in shock.”

Loughry was the Karns City boys basketball coach for four years until he resigned at the end of the 2001-02 seasons.

Loughry was 84-27 with the Gremlins and his teams won two District 9 Class AA titles.

In his three years at Grove City, the Eagles were 55-22.

Loughry, who is an elementary physical education teacher in the A-C Valley school district, said the future is bright at Grove City for whoever takes over the program.

“Our kids are great,” Loughry said. “They're good athletes. Our JV team was 16-2. Our freshman team was 15-2. Our varsity team was 18-8 and returns three starters. I'll be their biggest fan.

“They're going to find a very good candidate,” he added. “This is a good job with a tremendous tradition and Grove City is a great place. It's been very good for the Loughry family.”