Bethel Park AD moves to Winchester Thurston
For Laura Grimm, June has always been special.
During the past month, she celebrated her seventh anniversary with her partner, Nicole, and her daughters, Kyren and Avery, enjoyed their fourth and second birthdays.
June 30 is now a milestone day, too, because on that date this summer, Grimm was appointed athletic director at Winchester Thurston School after serving in a similar position at Bethel Park High School.
Grimm said it was the “right decision for her family” to leave Bethel Park, where she spent two years as an assistant to Dan Sloan before taking the reins at AD in 2023.
A Bethel Park resident, Grimm said, “I liked Bethel Park but when this opportunity came about it made sense especially for work and life harmony.”
At Bethel Park, Grimm oversaw 28 varsity sports and 12 middle school programs. Winchester Thurston offers nine varsity sports and seven middle school programs along with squash, fencing and crew clubs.
Grimm noted the Bears do not have football, cheerleading, wrestling, baseball or softball.
“So the demand is a lot less but the job is still the job and I am very excited about the position.
“I think I have come full circle,” she added. “I really want to intentionally balance myself more. I want to excel in all my roles as an administrator, spouse and parent. Winchester-Thurston will enable me to do that. It’s big on diversity, inclusivity and a focus on the student body.”
When Grimm actually was a student, she played basketball at Serra Catholic. There she set career records for points (1,940), 3-point field goals (283), steals (391), and assists (497). She also led the Eagles to the 2005 Class A girls basketball state championship.
“When I played, teams knew they could beat up on and even could score 100 points against Winchester Thurston but it’s not that school anymore. They win games and win championships. They have reached a level that is impressive. Their programs are in good places. They are really well-run functional programs.
“So the goal is tweaking and elevating. How to do that and get to the next level will be my goal.”
Grimm said that she is taking a methodical approach to her new position, one that requires more observation than immediate implementation.
“I am not going to be that person to change things for the sake of change. Start small and build from there,” she said. “It’s all about building relationships and trust.”
Grimm continued to construct a resume that furthered her skills, which made her marketable in the athletic as well as educational world.
After playing collegiately and earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Colgate University, Grimm earned a Master of Science in Sports Management, with a specialization in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration, from California University of Pennsylvania.
After a stint as Ringgold girls basketball coach, Grimm served six years as the school’s athletic director. There she helped lead the program to several major accomplishments, including the 2018 Class 4A state baseball championship, WPIAL and PIAA diving championships, and several other runners-up for WPIAL title.
Because Grimm understands firsthand the importance of balancing academic excellence with athletic commitment, she proved an attractive hire to the Winchester Thurston administration.
“Laura’s philosophy reflects the values we live every day at WT,” said Scott Fech, who is the head of the school. “She believes athletics are an extension of the educational experience, and she understands that strong athletic programs are built by supporting exceptional coaches. Her commitment to empowering coaches, partnering with families, and developing the whole student will strengthen our athletic community for years to come.”
Grimm is passionate about creating athletic programs that reflect a school’s mission and help students grow as individuals.
“I believe athletics should serve as an extension of a school’s educational mission by helping students develop accountability, resilience, leadership, confidence, and meaningful relationships,” Grimm said. “I am excited to join the Winchester Thurston community and work alongside our students, coaches, families, and faculty to build on the school’s strong tradition of excellence while creating an environment where every student-athlete is supported, challenged, and inspired to grow.”
In her prior position at Bethel Park, Grimm witnessed unprecedented success and growth in the school’s athletics. The Black Hawks won their first state championship in baseball during her tenure and the girls tennis team became a perennial playoff power, even winning a WPIAL title.
“We weren’t overflowing with championships but we had championship moments,” Grimm said of the teams she monitored. As a department, she added that there were a lot of small victories over time and many accomplishments that were behind the scenes such as facility improvements, overhauling booster organizations, updating handbooks as well as growing and promoting the brand with a larger social media footprint.
“We cleaned up procedural items that led to efficiency. There has been more collaboration,” Grimm said. “It’s been a collective effort and team accomplishment. While I take comfort in having played a role in that, it’s been a team effort and everybody did a fantastic job.”
As an athletic director, Grimm cultivated a positive work environment, especially among the coaches. She noted when news broke regarding her departure her phone blew up with text messages.
“Each of my coaches responded. I knew how I felt on my end but they felt the same way back,” Grimm said. “No doubt, I valued my relationships with them. I had tremendous coaches. So this is a bittersweet moment.”
On the other hand, Grimm is ready for a new start.
“I’m thrilled,” she said. “The community at Winchester Thurston is so inclusive and family-oriented. They have been so welcoming to me.”
Grimm likely will be back at Bethel Park High School someday. She currently serves on the WPIAL Board of Directors, where she helps guide policies and decisions that support interscholastic athletics throughout the region. BP has often hosted WPIAL playoff events.
“I told Vince (Sortino, who is the WPIAL executive director,) if he ever needs a site manager for games at Bethel Park or Upper St. Clair, I’m there,” Grimm enthused.