After spending a couple of years living and working in California and then traveling around the country for another job, Westbrook native Gary Groves returned to southern Maine in 2000 and took over as the athletic director at Portland High School.

He was happy with the Bulldogs, but did mention to the school’s principal that there was only one opportunity that could lure him from Portland.

“In the back of my mind I always felt that if (the Westbrook athletic director position) opened up I’d put my hat in the ring,” Groves says.

That spot did open up in this summer, when Matt Nelson, after six years as athletic administrator, moved over to become an assistant principal at Westbrook High. Groves tossed his hat and was the logical choice, with experience in the field and roots in the community.

On the job now for just two weeks, after fulfilling his commitment to Portland, Groves has already discovered one of the benefits of the move.

“I step out the back door and all the fields are there,” he says. “In Portland I had to travel all over the city to get to different fields. That’s a huge difference.”

Groves marvels at how, on the Friday of his first week, he was able to watch parts of five home events that were going on at the same time. Not only does this allow him to quickly respond to whatever issues need to be handled, but he just enjoys seeing so many young people involved in school sports.

“Athletics played such an important role in my life,” Groves, 42, says. “It created a great deal of opportunity for me to further my education and I never forgot that.”

Between 1977 and 1981, Groves played football, basketball and baseball for the Blue Blazes. Along the way he wasn’t really thinking about college, but Westbrook football coach and guidance counselor Jack Dawson took the youngster aside

“He really mentored me through my high school years. Academically I wasn’t that sound, but I went down to Worcester Academy in Massachusetts and did a year of post-grad and it was the best thing I ever did. It really put me on the right track to succeed in college.”

The University of Maine offered Groves a scholarship, and he went on to become a four-year starter at cornerback for the Black Bears. After that he played a bit of pro football in Italy.

“The owner of our team didn’t want us to just be football players. We were tutored twice a week and we studied the language. At the end of seven months I could go down to the market and carry on a slow conversation. I loved the culture over there and the people.”

A knee injury brought Groves back to the Portland area, where he took a job as assistant director at the Expo and did some coaching for the Bulldogs. From there he went out to southern California and worked as an administrator at Anaheim Stadium and then traveled around the country with Herzog Motorsports, working with a race car-driving team that included a young Jimmie Johnson, now a star on the NASCAR Nextel Cup circuit.

Groves returned home to Westbrook in 2000 and was soon the AD at Portland High.

“Gary is the consummate professional,” says Portland principal Mike Johnson. “He had a unique specialty in dealing with students and holding them accountable, both athletically and academically.”

Groves also decided to jump into politics and was elected to serve on Westbrook’s city council in 2003, as position he had to resign in order to accept the job at the high school.

“I felt running for city council was an opportunity to serve the community. I had a six-year plan of serving. However, when this position opened I thought, ‘What a chance to serve the young adults of the community.’ It’s a different way to serve.”

Groves understands that getting to know the students is “a process that’s going to take a while,” but he’s been impressed by the reception he’s received so far.

“Walking down the halls on the first day I had students saying, ‘Hi Mr. Groves.’ It’s been really positive and really refreshing.”

Groves, who now lives in the community with his wife Laura and daughter Britney, may have spent years away from here, but he’s always remembered the opportunities he received in his hometown.

“Westbrook’s been great to me,” he said. “I love Westbrook.”