Clarion Area, Redbank Valley, Allegheny College, Waynesburg and Medaille Universities Mourn The Loss, Celebrate The Life Of Greg Bean
Above photo: Greg Coaching the Bulldogs at Clarion University
I really don’t know how to begin this article except to say that this area has lost a real treasure.
Greg Bean, former Clarion Area Bobcat basketball player and assistant coach, Redbank Valley head coach, former Medaille University and Waynesburg University assistant coach, and Allegheny College assistant coach has passed away, of natural causes.
Typically, when I mention coaches in articles, it is Coach… so-or-so, but for this one it is just going to be “Greg.”
Three events commemorating Greg’s life are scheduled.
A Candlelight Vigil will be held at Allegheny College in Meadville on Sunday, May 7th at 7:00 PM. Visitation will be held at Goble Funeral Home, in Clarion on Tuesday, May 9th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM. A Celebration of Life will be held at Redbank Valley High School, in New Bethlehem on Wednesday, May 10th at 6:00 PM. (The family kindly requests that you wear your best sneakers to honor Greg’s one of a kind shoe game.)
I’m sure, many of us could share great remembrances of this fine man. I would like to share a few of my own. I knew Greg back when I coached and he played Little League baseball (I’m guessing even Minor League and maybe Tee Ball).
I remember our conversations in the weight room/fitness center at Clarion Area, when I volunteered and he’d stop in. Could not tell you a word of what we talked about; my memory isn’t that good. But the ONE THING I do remember, is that absolutely infectious smile.
I saw it then and I saw it any time we ever talked… at a sporting event, around town, wherever. You didn’t see Greg, when that smile and that kinda quiet little laugh he had weren’t there. Greg’s friendliness sure could brighten anyone’s day.
That’s how I remember Greg.
The Allegheny College release announcing Greg’s passing (link to complete release, as well as a link to Chris Rossetti’s beautiful, heartfelt article on D9and10Sports.com, below article) highlights some of the fine things he brought to the Gators’ basketball program, the school and the community:
We learned today of the peaceful passing of Greg Bean assistant men’s basketball coach, of a heart attack. Greg had been with the College since the fall of 2019, and we share with the Allegheny community an enormity of sadness at this time.
Greg played a vital role in the growth of the Allegheny men’s basketball program over the past four years, culminating in a successful run to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship in February.
During his time at Allegheny, Greg not only served in his coaching role but also in assistance of the athletics marketing team and showcased a willingness to help out in any and all facets of campus. His dedication to the team on and off the court was rooted in his passion for those around him, love of the game, championing of academic success, and integrity in everything he did. Greg was an active member of the Allegheny and Meadville communities.
We express our heartfelt condolences to Greg’s family, coworkers, friends, and all who knew him. We will share information about arrangements as we learn more.
I would like to share excerpts from a Clarion Sports Zone Article (a link to the whole article is also below this article) from several years ago, announcing Greg’s joining the staff at Allegheny. As you’d expect he was more than gracious in sharing his thoughts with me, no bother for him at all.
I share it as a chronological biography of Greg’s involvement with basketball. With the list are some of the quotes Greg shared for that article (in Bold).
In reading them, I’m sure you will see some of these things: Greg’s gratitude for those who helped him along the way; his love for his friends, coaches, teammates, players, schools and communities he was involved with through the years; his going the extra mile for his players; his pride in the accomplishments of his players, teams, and his assistants who moved on to bigger things. He was their biggest fan.
Greg graduated from Clarion Area High School in 2003, where he played for Coach Rob Leone and Assistant Jess Quinn on the Bobcats’ last District Nine Championship team. “(I) graduated with lifelong friends. We would still hoop together every Sunday up until I left Redbank Valley in 2015. The impact that basketball and our coaches had on us was unusual for basketball at Clarion Area. We were fortunate to have some guys on that team that were committed to winning and focused on basketball.”
Greg was the Assistant Varsity and Head Junior Varsity Coach, for the Bobcats, under Jim Harmon from 2005-2010.
Following his time at Clarion Area, Greg moved on to neighboring Redbank Valley, where he was the head coach from 2010-2015. “… I struggled with finding a passion until my time at Redbank Valley. Everyone’s path is different, but the perseverance I have learned during my journey has made me who I am.” He shared a quote, “If you’re good at it, and you love it, and it helps you navigate the river of the world, then it can’t be wrong.” – Sherman Alexie
The Bulldogs won the 2014-15 District Nine Class AA Championship (first District Championship since 1980) after finishing second the previous season. They were 2014-15 PIAA Class AA quarterfinalists. Redbank was the 2013-14 and 2014-15 Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) South Division Champions and Conference Runner-up (Program’s 1st and 2nd appearances).
Greg had a number of players win post season awards. And he was awarded two pretty prestigious awards: the 2014-15 All American Awards & Engraving/D9Sports.com Coach of the Year and the 2014-15 Tri-County Sunday/Courier Express Coach of the Year.
Following his tenure at Redbank Valley, Greg moved on to Medaille College, a Division III school at Buffalo, where he was an Assistant Coach 2015-2018 (Associate Head Coach 2016-2018, Head JV Coach 2015-2016). One of the players at Medaille, was Jonathan Smith who played for the Bobcats, who Greg recruited.
In Greg’s last year at Medaille, the Mavericks lost in the conference tournament semifinals. They received a bid to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) tournament (The Division III version of Division I NIT).
Jon came to Medaille as a freshman during our championship season. He was a great piece to have and could impact games by rebounding the basketball.
“I remember him coming up to visit Medaille with his Mom and brother. His brother got out of the car and recognized me from the Clarion University Rec Center and his mom had all the hand written notes I had sent to Jon that year. I knew we were going to get along great after that.”
Greg moved on to Waynesburg University as an Assistant Coach for the 2018-19 season. Waynesburg is a member of the Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC). “What made Waynesburg even more special was the opportunity to get to work with two guys I had coached at Redbank Valley in Sam Heeter and Jake Dougherty. It was really neat to be able to expand my relationships with those guys as their coach on a collegiate level.
“Its interesting though, we have so many restrictions set by the NCAA, that I was around them in the gym more when I was at Redbank Valley. It allowed me to get a first hand look at how much they had grown off the court, in the three years we were apart.
“Waynesburg had some tremendous people. The other coaches in the department and our assistant chaplain are people I will continue to build with from afar.”
In 2019, Greg was named the top assistant for the Allegheny College Gators basketball team.
Greg shared his gratitude for his family, “My mom was a professor and the gymnastics coach at Clarion University. My dad ran the scoreboard for home men’s and women’s basketball games at Clarion U while I was growing up. I think being exposed to collegiate athletics at an early age really impacted my life.
“My sister Erin bounced around in Division I at Tennessee Tech, the Northeast Conference and the University of South Florida. She is now the Assistant Athletic Director-External Operations at Saint Leo University, just outside Tampa, Florida and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
“I think we both owe our passion for athletics to our parents and extended family.”
A life well lived!!! Condolences to the Terry, Gayle, Erin and all those who knew and loved Greg!
https://d9and10sports.com/greg-bean-was-one-of-lifes-great-human-beings/
(Thanks to all whose photos were included.)