From the Bench: Revisiting Bridgeport High's Mount Rushmore of Coaching, as it Becomes More Difficult
By Jeff Toquinto on March 02, 2025 from Sports Blog
EDITOR'S NOTE I: More than eight years ago, I ran this blog, which turned out to be one of my most popular ever on the sports front and decided to update it because it was warranted. It appears almost eight years to the day later, it is time once again to revisit the blog. And as always, please remember two things – this is my opinion and is for entertainment purposes – and feel free to comment on your choices at the end.
Several years ago, as I was traveling back from a work-related road trip, I was listening to our good friends on Sportsline, the MetroNews radio talk show. The topic of discussion was whose heads would be on Mount Rushmore for West Virginia University football and also for West Virginia University basketball.
As I listened to the conversation unfold, I wondered about Mount Rushmore for Bridgeport High School athletics. However, I wanted it to be a bit different from the topic being discussed by the folks at MetroNews. Instead of having it just for those sports and instead of including athletes, yours truly is opting to see who you think should be on the Mount Rushmore of Bridgeport High School coaches.
There is, however, a caveat. The coach in question has to have been in charge of their particular sport, or sports as a head coach, combined in some cases, for at least 10 years. One-hit wonders are being excluded.
Why? Because I’m making the rules (and see the disclaimer on the 10-year rule below). And to be honest, most of the coaches that I thought of have had or are currently still involved with exceptionally long and healthy tenures at BHS.
There is another caveat. There are only three positions available. For those questioning my knowledge of history, I am fully aware that there are four faces depicted on Mount Rushmore. I’m also fully aware that anyone with any modicum of sport intelligence knows that Wayne Jamison is already up on the BHS version of Mount Rushmore.
I am also aware that more than one coach has more state titles at BHS than Jamison. Jamison is the lock because he is the one who created a winning culture associated with the high school that is not just a local trademark, but one recognized statewide.
After that, well, it gets tricky. The good news is that even in my time of following Bridgeport High School athletics, there are more than just a few quality names that could go up on the BHS Mount Rushmore. My only real concerns are coaches that pre-date my arrival into paying attention somewhat in the early to mid-1980s and paying very closely to things after 1990. Basically, I have a 30-year window. I’m venturing there were plenty of good coaches roaming the sidelines prior to me ever plunking down some money to watch a game or throwing down the WVSSAC pass to get into athletic events.
So, who should it be?
Let me begin by why I am revisiting the blog. Although under consideration the last time I wrote this, when you add to the state title haul, you get bumped up on the list. Just in case anyone is wondering, I am talking about Bridgeport High School swim team Coach Jan Grisso
who coaches both the boys and girls for the red and white.
who coaches both the boys and girls for the red and white.
For anyone making their choice, know that Grisso brings a whole heck of lot to the conversation of greatest coaches at the school situated on Johnson Avenue. On Feb. 21, two Fridays ago, Grisso did something she had not done in her lengthy career.
Grisso saw her boys and her girls both walk away with state championships in the same year. She had won titles in both before, but never had witnessed her teams do it in the same year.
For the girls, it was state championship number four. Previously, the Indians took home titles in 1999, 2000
For the boys, it was state championship number three. Prior to this year’s win, the previous two crowns came in 2010 and in 2019.
I am weak at math, but the numbers add to up to seven state championships in the same sport, but on two sides of the ledger. Oh, and the girls also won two state championships –at the Natatorium at West Virginia University – in 1997 and 1998 not recognized. The reason? The WVSSAC did not start recognizing the sport until that first girls state championship team in 1999. In fact, had they counted, that freshman class in 1997 would have had a clean sweep of titles for the girls.
She is the reason for the blog update. Her résumé just got a whole lot stronger.
You have Bridgeport High School baseball coach Robert Shields. He has nine state titles to his credit (including an unheard of and not-even-close-to-ever-being-matched seven in a row) and has had multiple 30-win campaigns, is a regular in the state tournament and has 
been successful in Class AAA and Class AA in roughly three and a half decades of work. Shields and his baseball team will be among the favorites to win it all again this year.
been successful in Class AAA and Class AA in roughly three and a half decades of work. Shields and his baseball team will be among the favorites to win it all again this year.
Long-time BHS cheerleading coach Shelley Mazzie also did incredible work with her squads at BHS. Again, all you have to do is go through the halls of Bridgeport High School and you can see the photos on the wall. And before I paid a whole lot of attention, I was told Janie Riley won several Class AAA titles with the girls - a pretty impressive feat indeed.
How impressive? From 1990 to 2000, Riley's cheer squads won every sectional competition, every regional competition and more and added three state titles - two in Class AA and one in Class AAA.
Want another name? How about retired Coach Jon Griffith. Griffith is the only coach I am aware of that has state titles with two different programs in two different seasons. He not only has cross country titles from 2013, 2014, and 2016 for the boys, but state titles in track for the boys in 2014 and 2018.
The strength of the track program did not just exist at the time Griffith was winning with the girls. Emille (Stout) Yurish was doing the same with the girls’ program. Yurish saw the girls capture three state titles in track and field. The team brought home state crowns in 2014, 2016, and 2018. She also has many years as a cheer coach where state appearances and a few very close runs at titles occurred.
Although I'm grainy on the subject, Hugh Gainer was another person that left an incredible mark. Gainer (and I believe this is accurate) won state titles in 1990,1992,1993 and 1994 in golf and was a pretty solid tennis coach as well.
Here's something I want to be clear on. I'm throwing out names for a fictional situation so there is no right or wrong. In fact, you don't have to be a state championship coach. Maybe, just maybe, you know of a coach that managed to produce the best in everyone they coached. Maybe a long-time assistant coach who had influence on the lives of students or perhaps your own, who you believe deserves mention, feel free to have at it the comment section below.
If you think that's BHS Mount Rushmore-worthy, by all means, include them. Even though they're my rules, if you think the 10-year rule shouldn't apply, by all means change that rule. This time around, I added a three-title stipulation because the field was getting too crowded and the blog too long.
Here is the thing, I personally know of several coaches that won titles that are worthy of any mention for outstanding coaching and development of student athletes. There are several that never won a title that fit the same mold.
My finalists? A decade plus since I first ran it, I cannot tell you for sure.
This is where you come in. Let me know who you would like to have on Bridgeport’s Mount Rushmore of Coaching Legends, particularly those from years gone by.
As always, the ball is now in your court. Comment away in the comment section below.
Editor's Note: Top image shows the late Wayne Jamison as part of Mount Rushmore. That is followed by a photo by Joe LaRocca at this year's state swim meet of Coach Jan Grisso. In the third image, by Ben Queen Photography, is Coach Robert Shields. Bottom image shows former BHS track and cross country coach Jon Griffith with some of his state title hardware.
