Jul 7, 2015 4 min read

Laura Grimm has been on the wrong side of a postgame handshake many times during her playing and coaching careers.

Losses can be disappointing, but it was not the outcome of the Ringgold’s girls basketball team’s summer league game against rival Belle Vernon that made Grimm emotional. As she slowly walked toward Leopards coach Lisa Fairman, Grimm came to the realization that her time as the Rams’ coach was officially over.

After being hired as Ringgold’s athletic director in May, Grimm had to forfeit her coaching duties, but received permission from district adminstrators to lead the Rams through the McKeesport Summer League.

The loss to Belle Vernon was her last game as Ringgold’s coach. Though she began her duties as athletic director last week – an opportunity she had been seeking for years – Grimm described the situation as bittersweet.

“It was really emotional. I’m competitive and enthusiastic, but I’m usually not the type to let those emotions show,” Grimm said. “We were going through the handshake line and I was on the verge of crying. (Lisa) asked me if I was OK and I told her that was it for me.

“Bittersweet is probably the absolute best word for it because by no means do I want to turn down what I’m currently doing, but I’ve been with those kids for two years. They become like children in a sense. I don’t know if I want 13 daughters of my own, but it felt like I had them.”

In two seasons as a head coach at Ringgold, Grimm led the Rams to the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs both times, a 26-21 overall record and three postseason wins. She is replacing Ron McMichael, whose contract as athletic director was not renewed. There won’t be a shortage of candidates for the basketball opening. After serving as an assistant coach at Baldwin, Grimm was hired in Aug. 2013 to replace Nick Mandich.

Though 6-6 center Marlena Schmidt, a West Virginia University recruit, is gone, Ringgold returns all but two players from last winter. Grimm said there are 10 applicants with another week or two until interviews begin. The plan is to have a coach selected for the school board meeting in August.

Grimm feels she is more than prepared to select her replacement and how to navigate the challenges of finding a top coach, such as geographic location and salary.

“I know what the team needs and what we’re up against,” Grimm said. “There are challenges with geographic location – it can be out of the way for some people – and the salary is not the highest for the position. Ringgold is the type of place where because of those reasons, it will attract young candidates looking for a break, an assistant looking for their first head coaching job or maybe some people who are retired. I think we’ll find the right person, but the new coach is going to have a tough critic because it’s like I’m giving away my children. They’re really going to have to impress.”

Finding a girls basketball coach is not the only hire Grimm will have to make. Ringgold needs to fill vacancies for a head varsity baseball coach, head varsity softball coach and a varsity boys golf coach. Mike Sikorsky coached the Rams’ baseball program for two seasons with a combined record of 8-22 and Don Crile’s job was opened as softball coach after one season. The new hire will be Ringgold’s fourth softball coach in four years.

Though WPIAL fall sports will not officially open practice until Aug. 17, Grimm, who is Ringgold’s first female athletic director, will be busy as she grows accustomed to her new role.

“It’s very chaotic. The first day you just clean up and get organized,” Grimm said. “We’ve had meetings, I’m working on a few policy changes and we’re starting to make some progress early. It’s comfortably busy.”

Hall of fame

The Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame held its 22nd annual induction ceremony last month and one active coach was inducted.

Phil Pergola, who is currently the boys basketball coach at Ringgold, headlined the list of inductees. Pergola, who has won 584 games during stints at Mon Valley Catholic, Charleroi and California, led the Rams to the WPIAL Class AAAA championship in 1990 and a PIAA title in 1995.

Other inductees included Bill Blick, Eugene Gladys, Jack Green, Bill Ryczaj, Yancey Taylor and Ron Forsythe.

WPIAL fall sports

The beginning of the WPIAL fall sports season is Aug. 17 and the first play date for most sports is Friday, Sept. 4. Golf begins Aug. 24. The heat acclimation period for football begins Aug. 10.