Anderson out at Greencastle after 49-year career

Forty-nine years of coaching high school runners, jumpers and throwers have come to an end for Garry Anderson.

Anderson has coached varsity boys' and girls' track and cross country for the past 15 years at Greencastle, the last 14 as head coach, but his coaching contracts were not renewed for the 2016-2017 school year, he said Tuesday evening.

"I was not told anything definite," he said, when asked why his contracts were not renewed.

Anderson has commuted to Greencastle from his home on the west side of Bloomington, and looks back fondly upon his time with the Tiger Cubs.

"I really enjoyed it, and still would be enjoying it," he said. "I had a good time. There were always a couple of days I wished things could be better, but I had a lot of good kids and a lot of fun times with them."

Anderson has no plans to coach anywhere else, and said he will "absolutely" miss it.

"I like to take a kid who is a freshman and watch them grow and become pretty adept at their area," he said. "I like to make winners out of kids. I always enjoyed that part."

Anderson's teams compiled a 161-32 record in track and field at Greencastle, with 80 individual conference champions during that time, 21 individual state qualifiers, 31 all-conference relays and three state qualifying relays.

"We were very successful," he said. "I thought I'd be going on for another few years."

During the recently-completed school year, Anderson's teams placed fourth in the boys' cross country sectional among 12 teams, third in the girls' sectional among 12 teams, eighth in the boys' track sectional among 13 teams and third in the girls' track sectional among 13 teams.

"We are extremely grateful for the 14 years of service that Coach Garry Anderson gave to Greencastle High School Athletics," GHS athletic director Greg Hill said in a statement. "A search for the best candidate(s) available to fill these positions is underway."

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest and resume to Hill at ghill@greencastle.k12.in.us.

Anderson's successor(s) will inherit a lot of talented youngsters, including cross country and track state finalist Emma Wilson, state finalist high jumper J.T. Matthews, sectional champion thrower Jada Amis and state qualifying relay team members Seelye Stoffregen and Bailey Shuee.

"It's done," he said of his career. "I had no intentions of quitting this year; I just want to make sure the kids know I didn't quit on them."

Anderson said he and his wife plan to spend time with their grandchildren and do normal retirement-type things.

"I've got several grandchildren to help take care of and watch grow up," he said. "We have lots of flower gardens here, and we'll travel and still attend some athletic events in the area."