After 27 seasons on the sidelines, including the last four as head football coach of the Greencastle Tiger Cubs, Dave Stephens has led a team onto the field for the final time.
Days after his team lost to South Putnam in the semi-final of the Class 2A Sectional 38 tournament, Stephens announced his retirement from coaching on social media and confirmed it to GIANT fm WREB.
"When I came home to become the head football coach at Greencastle, I said I planned to keep this job until I retired. After 27 years of coaching, I have decided it is time to retire from coaching football. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to lead the program at my alma mater and to the people who trusted me with that responsibility. Being able to come home and coach here has meant a great deal to me," Stephens posted.
Stephens arrived at Greencastle after a successful tenure as an assistant coach at Owen Valley and immediately enjoyed success with the Tiger Cubs, who went 8-3 in his first season at the helm. After three straight five win seasons, Stephens leaves Greencastle with a 23-22 record and quite a bit accomplished. He will stay on as a teacher.
"I am proud of what we accomplished together: a conference championship, a winning record, a sectional finals appearance, four straight years of playoff wins and numerous school and state records. Those accomplishments belong to the players and coaches who worked for them, and I am proud to have shared in them," Stephens said.
When he reflects on his almost three decades on the sidelines, Stephens said the thing that stands out is the relationships.
"Relationships brought me back to Greencastle and the relationships I have developed with our coaches and players are what stand out. The last four years what stands out the most to me is the phenomenal people here," Stephens admitted.
A self-described "teacher at heart," Stephens acknowledged he will miss seeing the players develop on the gridiron.
"Seeing a kid learn a technique or understand the scheme a little bit better, those a-ha moments where the light clicks on, I live for that," Stephens said.
With his son and former Greencastle quarterback Cole Stephens headed to Lehigh University next month and four kids under the age of 5, Stephens said he is ready to just be "dad."
"The future is just right now to be the best dad I can be for my four young kids under the age of 5, and be the best that I can be and be present for Cole and his journey at Lehigh," Stephens said.
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