This blog is a follow-up to today's story titled, "For some Ohio coaches, there's no place like home," in The Post.
Ohio Director of Football Operations, Jason Grooms, is a 2001 graduate of Ohio University. Here is what he had to say about returning to Athens as a coach:
On getting his job…
"Coach Solich created the position of director of football operations. I had a connection with Pete Germano, got my resume. I think being an alum helped."
On how being an alum helps the team…
"I think it definitely helps with little things. I know the campus pretty well. I know a lot of community members just from my interaction as a student coach when I was here.
"Knowing some little things I do about the Marching 110, singing the alma mater…they were doing that already, but I helped carry that tradition on and teach the staff. Of course, we started the tradition of the fight song after I got here."
How the team is different now from then…
"It’s a different type of team makeup. In my time here we were more like an academy, an option offense with a 3-4 defense that was built for smaller, more undersized-type guys. This team is more of a pro style that can compete more at the BCS level now with the type of athletes we’re recruiting."
On if the coaching staff asks him about the team while he was here as a student coach...
"Early on, we had some questions about some things, but we’ve been here so long that we’ve actually been here longer than that staff was here."
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Assistant soccer coach Amy Rossi was a four-year letterwinner for the Bobcats from 2003-2006. She is in her second year as an assistant coach.
On what it was like returning to Athens as a coach...
"The first thing I think of is pride. This is where I played, and what I was passionate about for four years as a player and then as coach. I just have a lot of pride in Ohio and soccer in general."
On the transition to coach...
"The transition from player to coach was hard. I went pretty much straight from being in my playing days to being a GA. It was a very different role from being on the field, being physically involved in every practice. It became about channeling my energy into educating at that point.
"The hardest thing is not playing in every practice or every game. Now that I am away from the game a little further, I do what ever I can to benefit the program, whether that’s by coming out to the field early or staying to watch video late."
On the benefits of coaching...
"The atmosphere is the best part about being a coach at OU because there are so many of us who have been here and played here. Now I have the opportunity to coach here. There is a ton of pride in being a Bobcat. I think it’s apparent in our offices and what we do every day because we love it and we love our experience so much here. I just love the atmosphere that Ohio athletics brings."
ro137807@ohiou.edu
