South Pittsburg head football coach Vic Grider.
Photo by Dan Henry.
buy photo
Vic Grider by the numbers
Won 81-percent of his games (162-43 overall)
Won 3 state championships (1999, 2007, 2010) as head coach, one other as defensive coordinator (1994)
Won 10 district or region titles
Coached 14 Mr. Football finalists; 46 all-state players
Has an 11-5 overall record against rival Marion County, including having won 7 straight, the longest in the series.
354 combined wins for Don and Vic Grider are the most for any father-son coaching tandem in state history.
SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. Vic Grider built a successful career by knowing when to make the right call. Even when it wasnt the one most people expected.
Grider surprised the gathering for South Pittsburgs postseason awards banquet Wednesday evening by announcing his resignation after 16 seasons as football coach at his alma mater.
Im a planner and I knew two years ago that this would be my last year, said Grider, whose team finished 8-4 this season with a one-point loss at eventual state champion Gordonsville in the second round.
That marked the 14th time the Pirates had won at least 8 games under Grider.
I always said that if I felt like I needed to do something else I wouldnt be stubborn, Grider continued. Basically I just knew its time. I know Ill miss it because its not easy to just give up something youve been around your whole life, but Im also tired of the non-stop grind that comes with this job.
The 46-year old Grider steps down after compiling one of the most accomplished prep coaching careers in Chattanooga-area history. He won 81-percent of his games, averaging 11 wins per season, and compiled a 162-43 overall record with three state championships and two runner-up finishes.