Paul Greco remembered as coach, teacher and community pillar across Placer County

From Roseville gyms to Colfax fields and Sierra College sidelines, Paul Greco left an imprint on Placer County athletics that extended far beyond the final score. Whether it was a basketball gym, a football locker room, a family kitchen or a quiet early morning before the rest of the house woke up, Greco showed up prepared, generous and committed to the people around him. That approach defined a life spent teaching, coaching and shaping generations of young people across Placer County. Greco died Dec. 19 after battling ongoing health issues for the last few years, according to his son, Vic. He was 81. A memorial service celebrating Greco's life is scheduled for March 1 at 1 p.m. at the Sierra College Gymnasium with a social to follow. Greco's influence spanned decades and disciplines, and though he was a familiar and respected presence throughout Placer County gyms and fields, those closest to him say his true legacy was never measured in wins and losses. At the core of Greco's impact was his role as an educator, which extended far beyond the classroom. Greco spent roughly 30 years as a physical education and health teacher at Roseville High School before retiring in 2001. Even then, teaching never really stopped. "He loved to teach," longtime friend and former Auburn Journal sports reporter Mike Ray said. "He left an impression on people wherever he went." Former students still remembered him years later, often not for diagrams on a whiteboard but for lessons that blended life skills with care and humor. Ray recalled Greco teaching a senior survival class, mostly for boys. " 'This is how you make eggs. This is how you make pancakes,' " Ray said. "He was an excellent cook, and those guys just ate that up. They loved him." That same mindset carried into his coaching career. At Roseville, Greco served as the head junior varsity boys basketball coach and varsity assistant, playing a key role during one of the program's most successful eras. He was part of Roseville's NorCal championship run in 1980 and later authored one of the most dominant junior varsity seasons in area history. In 1984, Greco's JV team went 26-0, finishing as the No. 1-ranked junior varsity team in the Sacramento area despite losing its best player to the varsity at midseason. Greco was named JV Coach of the Year by several local media outlets. "Back then, JV basketball was covered," Ray said. "The Sacramento Bee and the Sacramento Union had standings, rankings, all-area teams. And Paul's team was right at the top." Greco later coached women's basketball at Sierra College during the sport's early growth years in the mid-to-late 1980s. He compiled a 59-55 record as head coach and was widely respected for his ability to teach the game. To those who coached alongside him, Greco's career represented something larger than a single program or era. To Vic Greco, his father represented something larger and believes he had a major influence in what he calls the golden age of local sports in Placer County. "The era my dad impacted was like the golden era of high school sports in the area, for my money," Vic said. "Most of those coaches were teachers. They were on campus. That mattered." Greco was closely connected with legendary figures throughout Placer County athletics, including longtime Oakmont coach Gary Donnell, Colfax football coach John Hayes, Del Oro football coach Larry Wyatt and Roseville football coach Bob Jellison. His influence extended to coaches like longtime Rocklin boys basketball coach Steve Taylor, who played for Greco at Roseville, and longtime Colfax boys basketball coach Ron Pucci. "He loved the game, and he loved the kids," Vic said. "He enjoyed youth and varsity basketball more than the NBA or college." For many, Greco's most lasting impact came not through tactics or schemes but through consistency. Colfax alumnus Marcus Arroyo has coached Division I college football since 2003 and had a stint as quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014. He now serves as the offensive coordinator at Arizona State University and says Greco's influence has played a big part in his coaching career. Arroyo knew Greco from the time he was 6 or 7 years old and said, coming from a broken home, Greco became a constant male presence in his life. "Paul was a big figure my entire life," Arroyo said. "That effect as a man, as a husband, as a father figure had way more of an impact than sport." Arroyo described mornings that still shape him today. "He was always up early," Arroyo said. "Breakfast ready. Prepared for the day. Anybody who knew him knew Paul was going to show up for you." That standard followed Arroyo into adulthood. "When I'm up at 5:30 cooking breakfast for my kids, I immediately come back to Paul Greco," he said. "His preparation as a dad and as a man showed up every day." Those who knew Greco best say his personality was as memorable as his accolades. He appeared physically imposing, boisterous and opinionated. Greco never shied away from speaking his mind. "He called a spade a spade," Ray said. Officials heard from him, too. Ray laughed while recounting a youth tournament in Newcastle where a frustrated Greco pounded the wall four times after a bad call, which earned him four technical fouls, one for each hit, without being ejected. "That was Paul," Ray said. "He caught the ire of several referees throughout the years because he was big and gregarious and loud, but in a good way. He wasn't ranting on these referees, but if they made a bad call, he was gonna let them know." But behind the volume and presence was a gentler side that surprised many. "You had this big, massive human," Arroyo said. "But his heart and compassion were what really made Paul special." Greco could be found pruning roses in his yard as easily as breaking down game film. That balance, Arroyo said, shaped how he now leads young men. "You can be tough," Arroyo said. "But your compassion matters just as much." Greco's generosity and commitment to those around him extended well beyond athletics. Longtime Colfax football coach Tony Martello said Greco had an enormous impact on the Falcons' football program after Martello arrived in 1996. "Paul made sure all of the players were fed a full complimentary pasta dinner before each game," Martello said. "He and his wife Marilyn put together a team of people to cook, serve and clean up." The tradition continued long after Greco's sons graduated. "Sitting down and eating together was something everyone looked forward to," Martello said. "We will always be grateful for Paul's humble generosity and insight." Greco also ran a driver's training school that connected him with students from Colfax, Bear River, Placer, Del Oro and beyond. Ray said it was not only another quiet way he stayed involved in young people's lives, it was also a chance for him to get ahead on his coaching duties as he would find out which star basketball players were playing for new schools or were keeping up to date on their summer workouts. Even after stepping away from teaching and coaching, Greco never truly stepped away from the game. Ray recalled receiving Saturday morning phone calls from Greco during football season, asking for scores from the night before, even if he was out of the state on a hunting trip. "He just loved it," Ray said. Ray said Greco never sought attention, noting he preferred a retirement party that started after school and ended with coaches telling stories at a local dive bar for two hours. "He just showed up," Arroyo said. "For his kids. For us. Every day."