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Don Greco’s unique experiences and insights have helped him imagine the events in his two recent novels. “The Lion of Dellwood,” and “2nd Half- Gridiron Gangsters.” Greco has also authored two successful non-fiction books detailing the history of high school football in the St. Louis “Metro” Area. “The Legends of the Gridiron” and “The Legends Playbook” honor 135-years of Arch City’s high school gridiron history with nearly a thousand pages and hundreds of historic photos.
Growing up, Greco’s life revolved around three, not four seasons; basketball, baseball, and football. Little league, junior high, high school, college, and the NFL. He put on the pads at seven and left them on for two decades. After a successful high school career, he accepted a football scholarship to Western Illinois University. Greco was a four-year starter, captain, three-time All-Conference selection, team MVP, and a two-time All-American. He was a third-round pick, and the second offensive guard selected in the ’81 NFL Draft. He wore #72 in college and was the 72nd player selected that year. Greco played five NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions, he started, won an NFC Central Division Championship, and made two playoff appearances.
After his playing days ended, Greco returned home and started coaching high school football in the St. Louis “Metro” area. He led a struggling Pattonville H. S. program to thirteen straight District Titles and an appearance in the Missouri State Championship game. The two-time St. Louis High School “Coach of the Year” remains the winningest coach in school history. He also served as the Defensive Coordinator for the St. Louis Believers of the Indoor Professional Football League. He later became a television analyst for the St. Louis Believer’s and Rage of the IPFL
Don Greco was inducted into the Western Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and has been nominated for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was selected to the St. Louis Post Dispatch “All Millennium Team.” After completing a successful high school coaching career, Greco was welcomed into the St. Louis Coaches Hall of Fame. Don was a teacher and coach for thirty years, and is currently enjoying his second retirement. Please contact Don at coachdg67@gmail.com.