SLIPPERY ROCK — At the time, Glenn Toy was devastated.

As a senior running back/defensive back for the Karns City football team in 2012, Toy was poised to build on a breakout junior season in which he rumbled for more than 1,000 yards and averaged nearly nine yards per carry.

But a week before camp, Toy tore the ACL in his left knee.

He decided to go the unconventional route of playing through the injury and worked the knee into good enough shape to play against Union in Week 4.

Toy, though, lasted just five carries and 32 yards before he heard another pop.

This time, it was his meniscus that shredded.

His final high school season was over.

Instead of dwelling on the injury, Toy decided to do whatever he could to help the Gremlins win.

And his love of coaching was born.

“At that point in time, I had no idea what I wanted to do,” Toy said. “It was a blessing I tore it. I got to see behind the scenes of what goes on in the game, what the coaches have to do to get ready for a game. I really fell in love with coaching my senior year.”

Toy was a de facto coach on the sidelines for Ed Conto and Karns City that season. He dove into all the finer points of coaching and decided to pursue that in his future.

Seven years later, Toy is a quality control coach for the Slippery Rock University football team.

Toy breaks down film of the opposing team's offense and generates scouting reports for SRU head football coach Shawn Lutz and defensive coordinator Dom Razzano.

During practice, he runs the scout team and on game days, he sits in the booth and calls out the opponent's offensive personnel on the field.

“I have a lot of trust in him,” Lutz said. “He's a student of the game. He's getting so good at breaking down film. He'll find tendencies from the opposing offenses that gives us an advantage.”

Toy has been involved with The Rock football program since he graduated from Karns City.

“He's been working with us on and off for four years now,” Lutz said. “He started out as an intern and moved himself up.”

Toy couldn't play football at The Rock because of lingering problems with his left knee, which required two surgeries.

“I was a ref my first two years and just jogging up and down the field, my knee would swell up,” Toy said.

So coaching was the only way he could stay close to the game.

Toy said his years at The Rock have been invaluable.

“It's a great thing, especially at the college level,” Toy said. “I've learned so much about the game. Just being in the office with the coaches, I've gained an understanding of the offense so much more because I'm always breaking it down.”

Toy, though, doesn't see a future for himself as a coach at the college level.

His plan has always been to coach at the high school level and he will try to do that next year in Texas.

He received his physical education teaching certificate from the state and plans to move there at the end of this football season to teach and coach.

“I love the high school game,” Toy said. “I think it's more pure. You have kids who grew up in town and play for their school and their towns. Ever since I saw Friday Night Lights I've always wanted to teach and coach in Texas. Football is just crazy down there and that's where I want to be.”

Toy got a taste of crazy high school football Friday nights while playing for Karns City in the rivalry against Moniteau.

Those two teams met in the District 9 championship game during his junior year.

“Those games against Moniteau were so much fun,” Toy said. “Both teams had really good players and the fans came out for those games. A lot of players on the teams were good friends. It was just something I'll always remember.”