Hall of Fame
After 12 years of high school coaching, including 10 in his hometown of Lexington, Ohio, John Barr came to Grove City in 1972. Teaching and coaching “the best young people God ever put breath into” for 26 years, along with driving a mini-bus, van, or car to countless events and recruiting trips is the ultimate example of distinguished service to the College’s athletic program.
Barr coached men’s cross country, and men’s basketball, initiated women’s cross country in 1986, and directed 25 summer Wolverine Basketball Camps until his retirement in 1998.
In what he describes as “splendid company,” his hoop teams received seven post-season berths and posted a 319-278 record. The 1982-83 squad won a school-record 22 games and ended the season No. 7 nationally. He received Small College Coach of the Year accolades from the Pittsburgh Press.
After Grove City joined the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in 1984, Barr’s hoop teams won PAC titles in 1989, 1990 and 1991. He coached 13 of Grove City’s 22 1,000-point scorers -- two at Lexington, who are currently first and fourth all-time at Grove City, and 11 as Wolverines. Five players earned Academic All-America honors.
Twice the men’s cross country teams advanced to the NCAA Championships and Paul Cameron received All-America laurels in 1972. The men’s team captured its first PAC title in 1990 and remained atop the league during Barr’s tenure. The women runners notched nine straight PAC titles from 1989-1997.
Barr earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ohio State.
