REST IN PEACE, COACH.

COACH RON GROW - FHHS 1964 - 1985 and

WEST POTOMAC HS 1985 - 1993 

(Photo courtesy of Bruce Brownson, FHHS '73)

Coach Ron Grow, beloved teacher and coach at both Fort Hunt High School and West Potomac High School passed this week after a long, sustained battle with cancer.  Coach's Celebration of Life will be held at:  

Mountcastle Funeral Home

4143 Dale Blvd, Woodbridge, VA 22193-2224

Saturday, April 26th, 2025 from 2pm to 4pm

Join us in Honoring Coach Grow's Legacy!

- Write-Up and Invitation from Kendra Allman, FHHS '83.  Thank you, Kendra. 

The Fort Hunt High School Alumni Association invites you to join us as we pay our respects and express our deepest gratitude to a legendary figure in our community—our beloved and iconic PE teacher and championship football coach, "Coach Grow".

For two decades, from 1965 to 1985 at Fort Hunt and from 1985 to 1993 at West Potomac, Coach Grow influenced the lives of countless students. He didn’t just teach sports; he taught life lessons that went far beyond the playing field. Through his guidance, he instilled the importance of character, hard work, tenacity, and integrity. His efforts helped shape generations of athletes, pushing them to their highest potential, and his legacy still echoes in all of us today.

Coach Grow was an essential part of the coaching team that led our athletes to championship success, and his influence continues to resonate in the values he instilled in us. Now, it’s our turn to show up and send him off with the same incredible spirit of Fort Hunt that he inspired in us.

As Coach often said on the sidelines, “Don’t think, son, you’ll only hurt the team. Let me do the thinking; that’s what they pay me for!”

Let’s come together one last time to honor the man who was much more than a coach—he was a mentor, a teacher, a true leader and most importantly....a Federal! Coach Grow’s legacy lives on in each of us.

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Below is the Write-up/School Bio for Coach Grow when he was placed in the West Potomac HS Athletic Hall of Fame. Thank you, Chris Beal, for sharing this write-up with us.

West Potomac High School Athletic Hall of Fame

Inducted October 25 2024

RONALD W. GROW
1985 to 1993

Without a doubt, Ron Grow was one of the primary reasons the merger that created West
Potomac High School in 1985 went smoothly. His historic and valuable background enabled
a smooth transition as he worked tirelessly with staff and mentored newly appointed
coaches. As an administrator, Ron served as the Assistant Director of Student Activities
and his duties included all areas of the Student Activities Office.

His knowledge and attention to supervisory details ensured smooth operations in all areas. Ron was the
Softball Head Coach and led his team to their first District Championship. He also was an
Assistant Coach on the two-time State Championship Football Team. His coaching
philosophy was “heart, dedication, desire, courage and determination is the formula for a
winning team”.

During his tenure, Coach Grow became a fixture at WPHS; beloved by staff and students.
He continued to coach football after he retired, serving as a mentor to the 2nd generation
football staff at West Potomac. He always had a funny story, was always ready to help out,
and developed numerous people to be the best version of themself.

Ron Grow is forever a Wolverine!  (Editor's Note:  ...And forever a Fort Hunt Federal!) 

Administrative

● Assist in hiring, supervision and evaluation of coaches and sponsors
● Ensure team policies were in compliance with Coaches’ Handbook
● Assist in preparation of annual athletic budgets
● Supervise practices and manage athletic events
● Coordinate with VHSL and event officials
● Liaison with all booster clubs
● Coordinate student athlete tutoring and academic monitoring program
● Coordinate with SGA sponsor on school activities

Coaching Accomplishments

● Softball District Championship - 1986
● Two Football State Championships – 1989, 1990