MEADVILLE, Pa. – Allegheny College assistant men’s basketball coach Greg Bean, who won District 9 basketball championships as both a player (Clarion Area) and coach (Redbank Valley), passed away from a heart attack, Allegheny announced on Wednesday.
Also see: Bean was one of life’s great humans
Bean, who graduated from Clarion University, won a District 9 championship as a player at Clarion Area in 2003 and later went back to his alma mater to serve as an assistant coach until 2010 when he took the head job at Redbank Valley.
Bean served as head coach of the Bulldogs from 2010 to 2015, guiding them to a District 9 title in 2015, their first championship since 1980. The Bulldogs advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals for the first time in program history that season as well.
After the 2015 season, Bean went on to coach in the college ranks, first at Medaille College in Buffalo. At Medaille, Bean helped the Mavericks to the 2017 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) regular season and tournament championships and a berth in the NCAA Division III Championship, as well as the ECAC Tournament berth in 2018.
After the 2018 season, Bean moved on to Waynesburg College, where he served as an assistant in the 2018-19 season, helping guide the Yellow Jackets to seven President’s Athletic Conference wins, their most in three seasons.
Bean served as an assistant at Allegheny the last four seasons, helping lead the Gators to the PAC championship this past season.
Bean’s family ties in District 9 run deep. His mother, Gayle Truitt-Bean, served as the gymnastics coach at Clarion University, and his father, Terry Bean, has been a longtime District 9 official.
His sister, Erin Bean Halteman, also went into a career in athletics, serving in both athletic communications and athletic administration positions at various colleges.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR GREG BEAN
Candlelight Vigil – 7 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa.
Visitation – 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 at Goble Funeral Home; Clarion, Pa.
Celebration of Life – 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 10 at Redbank Valley High School – New Bethlehem, Pa.
