Glory Days with Greg Groth

There was the Timm West and Tim Hough era. And then David Mendralla, John "Thunder" Parr and Todd Alfred came in. Finally, it was David Delger, Eric Brauer and Alex "Hurricane" Frank.

Grayslake High School wasn't known for basketball when it opened in 1945. It took nearly 20 years for the team win its first conference title. There was also a regional title in 1985.

And then the school hired Greg Groth to coach the team. His first team won 10 games in 1985-86. There was an eight-win season the following year.

And then the Rams started to win.

Groth, principal of Central Catholic High School in Burlington, Wis, is Grayslake's all-time winningest head coach. When he retired in 1999-2000, his teams had rung up 201 victories.

Even in his busy life as principal, Groth vividly recalls the fun he had coaching the Rams.

"I loved being the Grayslake coach,'' Groth said. "I hated to retire but I wasn't about to miss my own kid's games. We really needed to change the attitude there. Once the kids bought into it, we had some great crowds."

Along the way, Groth's teams dropped 191 games.

"I also know I have the most losses in school history,'' he said.

Alfred, now working for the PGA, fondly recalled the days playing for Groth.

"He's really one of the most selfless people I've ever met,'' Alfred said.  "I really have always admired his work ethic, values, and his drive to plan his work and work his plan."

Groth's first winning campaign was 1987-88 when the Rams won 15 games. It was followed by a 17-9 mark.

"That was fun,'' he said. "Those were our first conference titles."

The Rams went 24-4 in the NWSC in those two seasons.

And then a guard named Mendralla showed up along with Alfred, Parr, Geoff Sponholz and Brian Stech. This was before the IHSA moved Grayslake to Class 3A. In those days, the Rams battled the likes of Class 4A powers Warren and Mundelein.

In Mendralla, the Rams had a special player. He ranks 14th in IHSA history for career scoring average (20.9).

"Inch for inch, he was a good as they got,'' Groth said.

In those two seasons (1993-95), Groth's teams won 38 games and twice made it to the Waukegan Sectional.

"My greatest memory as a player with Coach was after we beat Deerfield to win the regional,'' Alfred said. "Coach and I stepped back put our arms around each other and watched our team cut down the nets."

When this class graduated, the Rams posted three consecutive losing seasons. And then the Delger era kicked in. This stylish guard along with the power inside from Brauer helped close the Groth era with 45 wins in two seasons.

"In 1999, I got a tee shirt that said Rams forever baby,'' Groth said. "I still miss it big time. In my 15 years there were very few kids that I didn't like. It was so much fun."

Groth's retirement from Grayslake did not leave him sitting on the back porch. He seems to relish his role as principal. And last week, his school's baseball team just won a state championship.