Omaha North assistant football coach Terry Grigsby died suddenly from a heart attack at the age of 31.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Omaha North assistant football coach Terry Grigsby passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack at 31.
Grigsby was a son, a brother, and a coach whose smile could light up a room before he even spoke, his family shared.
“Now I’m finding out why he was in such a hurry, we would tell him to slow down,” said his father, Terry Grigsby Sr.
Grigsby made his mark at Omaha North as an All-Nebraska defensive back and wide receiver in 2011. He later played college football at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
He returned to Omaha North to coach the next generation. As part of Coach Larry Martin’s staff, he coached wide receivers—the same position he once played under the Friday night lights.
“To us, this is what he did; this is who he was. This is what he would want us to talk about today. This is why God put him here,” said his mother, Joyce Grigsby.
Outside of football, Grigsby mentored young athletes through Peak Performance, where he coached youth track and field.
“In a sense, he wrote his own eulogy. His life was his eulogy,” his father said.
Omaha North Football described Terry’s presence as “a gift to everyone he encountered,” adding that his infectious energy and love for others left a lasting impact.
Joyce Grigsby said those wishing to honor her son should follow his example.
“If you want to keep our son alive, do what he would have done. Don’t cry, pull your bootstraps up, do what he would’ve done. That’s the way you give back. Become a mentor, become a coach, become someone who will make a difference in somebody’s life,” she said.
Terry’s visitation and funeral will be held Saturday, April 4, at Fort Street Church of Christ. The service is open to the public and begins at 9 a.m. The Grigsby family is also working to establish a scholarship in his honor.
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