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University School's Grant honored by athletic directors
(by Steve Novak - July 02, 2009)
University School's Grant honored by athletic directors
By STEVE NOVAK
In an age of job downsizing, factory closings and employee buyout packages, the once familiar tradition of staying on a job through decades is a thing of the past.
The Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association recently honored Ron Grant who has given 40 years of service to the athletic programs at University School
Shortly before the end of the school year, Grant was presented with the Meritorious Service Award for his leadership and years of service. Now the athletic director at University School, Grant spent 30 of his 40 years as the Preppers' varsity swim coach.
Also, in addition to his various athletic positions, he has maintained his post as a physical education teacher at the school. He also has served as an assistant football and baseball coach throughout periods of the four decades. He served as the director of physical education at University School's lower school for nine years.
Grant took over as high school athletic director in 2001. Since that time, teams in the Preppers' varsity program have won nine state titles in five different sports. During the past school year, University School won state titles in golf and hockey.
But even before he took over in the athletic office, Grant already had recorded an impressive set of numbers season after season. In his three decades as swim coach, the Preppers piled up a record of 247 wins, 97 losses and two ties.
Also during his tenure, University School swim teams won three sectional titles, two district crowns and six championships of the former Interscholastic Prep Conference.
Grant was hired as the Preppers' head swim coach right after graduating from Miami University inOxford in 1969. He already had an impressive sports resume that included being a member of the 1965 Cleveland Heights swim team that won the state championship.
At Cleveland Heights, Grant was a co-captain and the lead swimmer on the four-by-200-yard relay team which set a state record in 1965 with a clocking of 1 minute and 31 seconds. His personal time in the record heat was 22.5 seconds.
At Miami University, Grant was a co-captain. He swam in various events during his four years, and the team won the Mid-American Conference swimming title in 1967 and 1968.
Grant applied for a job at University School because he wanted to be employed close to his Cleveland Heights hometown. He admits he was "in the right place at the right time" for both a teaching and a coaching position to be open as soon as he graduated from college.
He said that the immediate opening for a swim coach was icing on the cake because all he was seeking after college was a teaching position.
"I wanted to be a physical education teacher," he said. "There were some physical education teachers back at Cleveland Heights that had influenced me a lot. One was Don Floria. The other was Sil Cornacchione."
As for his personal sports pedigree, Grant also has passed it to the next generation. His Brad, 37, is the director of amateur scouting for the Cleveland Indians. His daughter, Kristin, 35, is married to Lee MacPhail IV, the assistant to the president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles.
He said his decision to step aside as swim coach wasn't easy, but it has given him the opportunity he needs to devote many more hours to the job of athletic director.
"It (swim coach job) is a huge time commitment. It takes up 11 to 12 months of the year," he said. "I was getting burned out, and thought it was time to step down. And as the athletic director, I wanted the time to be able to do a good job. But I miss those kids (on the swim team) a lot."
After 40 years as a coach and educator, the only thought that Grant has of retirement is the thought that it's still at least a few years away.
"I'm 62 years old," he said. "I'd like to stay until I'm 67. I'd like to think I have five more good years left."
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