43
W. Branch graduate off to Arizona with Gamecocks
Greenawalt is strength coach for S. Carolina
By Greg Gulas
Scott Greenawalt wanted to become a football coach when he graduated from Muskingum College.
But it was while serving as an assistant coach at Ohio Northern University just two years removed from graduation that the Salem native saw his fortunes change.
That’s the reason he finds himself at this weekend’s NCAA basketball Final Four as South Carolina head coach Frank Martin’s strength and conditioning coach.
Greenawalt has enjoyed a circuitous career path that seemed to get better and better every stop along the way, most especially in Columbia, S.C.
“We had an assistant leave, so [Ohio Northern] head coach Tom Kaczkowski handed over to me the added responsibility of strength and conditioning,” Greenawalt said. “I had no idea what I was doing, but I sure had fun doing it and just continued to grow with the position.”
Greenawalt is a 1993 West Branch High School graduate who was recruited to Muskingum College by head coach Jeff Heacock’s father, Clinton, the first and longest tenured superintendent of West Branch Schools.
“When I played for the Warriors, Mr. Heacock was retired as superintendent but came to most of our practices,” Greenawalt said. “I’m not so sure that I ever had a choice when it came to selecting a college.
“For his guidance back then, I remain grateful and appreciative,” Greenawalt said.
A four-year starter at linebacker for Muskingum, Greenawalt spent two seasons on the Fighting Muskies staff and another two seasons with the Polar Bears when the opportunity to go to the University of Cincinnati as a paid intern arose.
“At that time, Tim Swanger, a Muskingum University graduate, was the head strength and conditioning coach for the Bearcats and he called to ask if I’d be interested in the internship, which paid $10,000 a year,” Greenawalt said. “I said absolutely.
“When I asked when he needed me, he told me tomorrow so it was off to UC.”
Entrusted with overseeing the strength and conditioning programs for all Bearcats sports, basketball coach Bob Huggins requested his services solely for his hoops squad.
“Coach Huggins would come by every now and then and watch the student-athletes work out and while I didn’t really know him that well, his secretary called one day and said that he would like to meet with me,” Greenawalt said. “Quite frankly, I’m scared to go see him.
“We worked with every sport back then and often times it was a 90-hour week, so I really didn’t know what to expect.”
The meeting was a career-changer.
“When I told him that my background was football, [Huggins] told me that was how he coaches [his players] and that was how he wanted me to train them.”
After seven successful seasons in Cincinnati with Huggins and his former assistant Martin, Greenawalt followed both coaches to Kansas State University.
“I had never been to Kansas State and it felt like the campus was right in the middle of a dirt road in Manhattan, Kan.,” Greenawalt said. “It didn’t take long to figure out that this was the big time.”
Greenawalt’s wife, Heather,is from Baltimore.
“We both fell in love with the school and community, as well as the coaches and players,” Greenawalt said. “My two daughters were born there and I cannot say enough about my time there.”
The first decision that led Greenawalt to South Carolina came when Huggins departed for West Virginia after one season and Martin took over the Wildcats’ reins.
“Coach Huggins asked me to join him in Morgantown and said to jump on the plane and get started,” Greenawalt said. “I appreciated the offer, but looked at him and asked exactly how much longer he expected to be doing this.
“When he told me five years, I knew that I still needed 30 years so I politely declined the offer,” Greenawalt said. “I really worked well with Frank so when he took over the program, I stayed with him at KSU.”
Greenwalt was at Kansas State from 2006-12. Kansas State posted six consecutive 20-win seasons and advanced to the postseason each year, including four trips to the NCAA Tournament.
When Martin accepted the South Carolina job, he took along Greenawalt.
Saturday, the Gamecocks, a seven seed, will take on number-one seed Gonzaga, which is playing in its first Final Four.
The winner will face Oregon or North Carolina for the title on Monday.
“Coach Martin was an up-and-coming coach, so it was an easy decision to stay back with him at Kansas State and then follow him to South Carolina,” Greenawalt said. “People see his demeanor on the sidelines and pass judgement, but I see a great family guy who is passionate about basketball and his players.”
To many, the Gamecocks have become the darlings of this year’s tournament. It wasn’t like that, however, when they first took over.
“We were coming off great success at K-State and knew that it would be a two, maybe three-year project so we struggled early on,” Greenawalt said. “It took Coach time to find the players to fit his mold,” Greenawalt said. “When we arrived, players didn’t want to work hard at practice or in the weight room, but they’ve bought into the system and now run, train and practice harder.
“Plus, they’re mentally tough.”
Greenawalt said that you need to see Martin away from the court in order to fully appreciate him.
“I am often asked, ‘how can I work for that crazy guy’ and I just laugh,” Greenawalt said. “He’s an absolutely great dude who says that while he cannot guarantee a league or NCAA title, it will be a fun ride, and that it has been.
“He’s changed the culture, both with the players and the overall program,” Greenawalt said. “Each year, it has gotten better and this is the result of all of the hard work to this point.”
Greenawalt credits his parents for the work ethic that he possesses. His father Al, lives in Warren and mother Belinda lives in Montgomery, Ala. He credits his teacher and coaches at West Branch for their guidance as well.