Greg Norwood doesn’t only preach the team concept, he’s proof of it.
Now in his seventh season as assistant softball coach at Greenwood Community High School, Norwood carries the responsibility of interim head coach this spring while head coach Stephanie Senac is on maternity leave.
“I’m kind of the ‘whatever’ guy,” said Norwood, a 1993 Greenwood graduate, laughing.
“I just try to do whatever I can do to help.”
Senac’s oldest daughter, Kinsley, turns 2 on May 26. It was her birth that nearly forced Senac to miss the latter stages of the 2013 softball season, but she managed to make it all the way through.
On March 16, Senac, 28, gave birth to another girl, Everley.
Norwood, who joined the staff prior to the 2009 season, realized this time around he would likely be called on to step in.
“Once Stephanie told me she was having another child, and the due date, it was pretty clear to me I would be doing this,” said Norwood, referring to Senac’s March 14 due date and the fact Greenwood’s season-opener against Indian Creek was 23 days later. “I do it because I love doing it. I’m not doing it for the money, but to add something,” Norwood said.
“My goal each year is that they leave the program a stronger young woman, because the world is a tough place. To be able to stand up for themselves and always believe they can do anything.”
Despite graduating an outstanding senior class led by reigning Daily Journal Player of the Year Brittany Gray, the Woodmen opened with victories in six of their first eight games this season.
Greenwood is scheduled to play a crucial Mid-State Conference game at Whiteland this afternoon.
Norwood has coached under both Senac and her predecessor, Mike Baker. Therefore, don’t anticipate something like a maternity leave to force wholesale changes in the program’s softball philosophy.
“To win games, obviously we have to hit,” Norwood said. “We want to get one run every inning. No matter who is at bat or whoever is on base, we’re trying to generate that one run.”
Senac hopes to return later in the season for both practices and games, as Greenwood’s regular season doesn’t end until a May 22 game at Edinburgh.
Should her best-case scenario not pan out, Senac is more than confident the program is in capable hands for now and throughout the remainder of the season.
“To be honest, I’ve learned so much from (Norwood),” Senac said. “I was definitely happy for him to take over the lead role while I’m not there. To have that continuity is important.
“You know the expectations, you know the goals. It’s good for the players to have that routine.”
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THE NORWOOD FILE
Name: Greg Norwood
Age: 39
Born: Greenwood
Family: Wife, Jessica; daughters, Chelsea, 20, and Taylor, 16
High school: Greenwood H.S. – 1993
Favorite athlete: Nolan Ryan
Favorite team: Butler men’s basketball
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