BOYS BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR: Gordy Gruhl still enjoys watching his players grow

ALBANY — Not long after his team fell in the semifinals of the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class AAA state tournament, Deerfield-Windsor boys basketball coach Gordy Gruhl stood in a long hallway under the stands of Mercer University’s Hawkins Arena.

The coach, who had been part of many thrilling victories and just as many heart-breaking losses, looked for the words to describe the feeling after the Knights fell in overtime to John Milledge Academy.

“The sun will come up tomorrow and the next day after that,” Gruhl said after the loss. “We will feel a little better with each day that passes.”

Despite the loss in the final four, Gruhl knew this was a special team and it showed. Gruhl led the Knights to a 22-4 record and a region title, garnering the Albany Herald boys Coach of the Year award.

The Knights opened the year with five straight wins before losing two of their next four — the second of which was to rival Westwood — which Gruhl believed changed his team’s season.

“I think that is when we turned the corner a little bit,” Gruhl said. “Sometimes, it takes a good loss to get you playing better. It makes the team realize we are going to have to work at this that much harder.”

After the loss, Deerfield reeled off two lengthy win streaks of seven and nine games with a loss to Westfield sandwiched in between. The loss was avenged when the Knights beat the Hornets in the second round of the Class AAA state tournament.

Gruhl’s starting lineup consisted of five seniors who had been a part of the state title team in 2014-15. The group (Chandler Matthews, Trey Young, Ethan Shellhaas, Tyler Lowe and Whit Turner) had been playing together since they were in the sixth grade.

“They were very close last year when they won the state title and that continued on,” Gruhl said. “They knew how to win and how to get it done. They knew how to go about their business and prepare for a season and prepare for games.”

Lowe cited Gruhl’s ability to motivate his players as a big reason for his success.

“He pushes his players and gets the best out of them,” Lowe said. “He knows what it is for each individual player that gets them fired up. I think that is huge.”

Not only did the players develop a bond, but the coach also grew close to the players. At a recent Deerfield-Windsor event held to honor athletes, Gruhl found it hard to put into words what the group meant.

“There are certain things you want to say about them,” Gruhl said. “This was a very tough bunch to talk about. You get emotional and choked up a little bit. These are some guys that had a great impact on the program.”

After coaching for 41 years, 32 of which have been at DWS, Gruhl still finds satisfaction in watching his players grow.

“They were willing to sacrifice for each other,” Gruhl said. “When you’ve got kids that care about each other and are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful, coaching is really just a pleasure.”