Norwalk to host "Giveback for Gray" games

The Norwalk High School boys' and girls' basketball programs, along with the school's athletic boosters, are hosting their inaugural "Giveback for Gray" memorial game to honor the late Steve Gray this Friday (Feb. 6) at NHS. Gray, a revered figure at Norwalk and the all-time wins leader (312) in boys basketball, where he coached for 21 seasons from 2002-22, died suddenly on Dec. 28, 2025, at the age of 69. Friday's event is a varsity doubleheader. The boys will take on SBC Lake rival Bellevue at 6 p.m., then the girls will follow around 7:30 p.m. when they take on the Lady Red for the league title. T-shirts are being sold for $15 with Gray's likeness, and there will also be 50-50 raffles along with a bake sale by donation, among other items. All the proceeds will go to the recently established Coach Gray scholarship fund. "We are looking forward to honoring and celebrating the life, legacy, and impact that Coach Gray had on the Norwalk community," NHS athletic director Josh Schlotterer said. The shirts can be purchased online for $15 each by visiting here. The deadline to order is 12 p.m. Friday. The NHS athletic department will contact those who ordered shirts, or they can be picked up at the game that night. The games will also serve as a mini-cheer night for the NHS cheerleading program, while elementary fourth-graders will sing the National Anthem prior to the games. An OHSBCA Hall of Famer, Gray led his teams to 481 wins in 34 seasons at four different schools but made his biggest impact on and off the court in Norwalk. Gray's teams went 312-188 in his 21 seasons at Norwalk. During that time, the Truckers won six league championships, 12 sectional championships, and three district titles to go with a regional title and the Division II state championship from a 29-1 season in 2014. "Friday night will be a community celebration of Coach Gray's life and a way to give back to the memorial scholarship in his honor that the family is hoping to be able to award to Norwalk High School graduates each year," Schlotterer said.