Crossing Paths with a Giant.... the Impact of Great People......Coach Bill Arnsparger

With John Combs & Coach Arnsparger after he spoke to our 2005 KY All Star Team. One of the greatest honors, ever, for our family, was when John Combs played the piano for Coach Arnsparger's funeral. 

30 years ago it was the summer of 1992. I was a first year head football coach at Paris HS. Stephanie and I had just been married that May. Our summer days were to get up and leave Lexington every morning and drive to Paris. I would work til dark and she would look for a house. I was replacing a very popular head coach and my former boss in Roger Gruneisen who had just become the head coach at our rival, Bourbon County HS.  We had around 25-29 kids in grades 9-12. To say I was on edge would be an understatement.

In late July/early August we were getting ready for the Greyhound Hall of Fame Banquet. Bill Arnsparger was in town and I got to meet him for the first time.  During those few days, he came by our fieldhouse and practices. I had the incredible opportunity to visit and talk with the greatest defensive coach of all time.   

I can't remember all that we talked about, but I do know this.... I was in a much better frame of mind after our time together. It was a couple things. One was that the way Coach Arnsparger treated others, he could inspire confidence. He certainly did that for me. The other thing it did for me was it reinforced how special it was to be a Paris Greyhound.  Coach Arnsparger being around our kids those few days helped all of us appreciate even more that we wore the orange and black.  For lack of a better term, the positive vibe he brought to the fieldhouse and our football program right before the season was a difference maker for all of us.  Bill Arnsparger was a Greyhound. We were Greyhounds. 

After a 1991 season of 2-8, the 1992 Greyhounds were 7-4.  We had some big victories with a team of mainly sophomores and juniors.  We had very good teams in 93 & 94 as well.

I can't imagine how the past 30 years would have gone without the start we had in 1992.  Coach Arnsparger was a huge part of helping me and our program believe we could do it. I think he had that kind of effect on most everyone that came into contact with him. 

In the summer of 1995, we were getting ready for a primarily defensive practice. I notice a car parked off to the side of Garrard Park. Paranoia is my best thing... I walk toward the car to see who is spying on us. As he emerged from the car, I said, "Hello Coach!" It was Coach and Mrs. Arnsparger!! Coach was kind enough to speak to our team before we began our work. He then watched our defensive practice that day. Here is the BEST defensive coach in the WORLD watching us practice defense... our fundamentals, reads, terminology, drills, etc. Forget about nerves for a ballgame, that was about as big as it gets when it comes to coaching.  But, what a GREAT experience for a young coaching staff and a HS football team! I will never forget that day and will always be thankful that it happened. 

Coach Arnsparger has gone on to be with His heavenly Father, who he loved and served on this earth. Hard to believe it has been seven years since he passed away. But, one thing that I am 100% sure of..... the positive impact and the way he touched the lives of others will live on and cannot be measured because of it's magnitude.

I thank God that I was one of those people that crossed paths with Coach Arnsparger.  Thank you coach and God Bless the Arnspargers.

Colossians 3:23 

The greatest book written on defense, by the great defensive football coach in the history of the game.