Family is most important to Shane Grodack.
His love for his sons, Ethan and Jake, overpowers his intense passion for his alma mater Western Wayne and its football program. For that reason, he is stepping away as head coach after three seasons.
Ethan is a a sophomore at Wilkes University, where he is a pitcher for the Colonels. Jake, a sophomore, is the starting quarterback at Western Wayne.
“It is tough,” Shane Grodack, an eighth-grade history teacher at Western Wayne, said. “With Ethan being at Wilkes and all that is required time-wise to commit to the football program during the offseason, being a part of both was challenging. College athletics is nonstop. He got a lot of playing time last year, so that draws you away from other things, and I was being pulled in a lot of different directions.”
Grodack, a former player for the Wildcats and longtime assistant coach, helped lead the program to the Lackawanna Football Conference Division II co-championship in 2024 and the District 2 Class 3A championship game in 2023. He steps away with a career record of 20-14, which included the program’s first 10-win season in 2024.
In addition to the coaching element, he took pride in promoting the program. He researched the history of the Wildcats, established a school record book and created an all-time career and individual statistical database.
“I went back and looked through the historical records, and no other Western Wayne coach won 20 games in their first three seasons, so I am proud of that,” Grodack said. “I am proud of that 10-win season we had. I am proud of the kids who have played for us here and built the program. I am proud of the assistant coaches and the time they committed.
“I always received great support from the school administration and the community. I can look back and hold my chin high. We did a lot of great things. I am very grateful for the support I received from the players and their families, with all that we demanded from them. It was an awesome ride. I enjoyed every second of it.”
Western Wayne is one of three LFC schools searching for a head coach. Montrose principal Terrance Whalen announced that the administration has opened the position formerly held by George Petrak, following the season. Scranton coach Steve Shumbres resigned as coach earlier this month.