On April 26, 2023, Stephen J. Fritts, known to most in the community as “Coach Steve,” passed away at the age of 72. 

Fritts spent his whole life in Warren County, graduating from Warren Hills in 1969. During his time at Warren Hills, he met his wife, Shelly, with whom he would have spent 50 years this coming September. 

The impact Fritts had on the Warren Hills community is indelible. He taught  Health and Physical Education at Warren Hills for over 33 years before retiring in 2011. 

“I had Mr. Fritts for 8th grade health,” said Warren Hills English teacher and alumna Penny Giamoni. “He always had a huge smile on his face and was passionate about the material he was teaching. He was the perfect balance of knowledge, compassion and  humor—an all-around fantastic teacher.”

Not only was Fritts a teacher, his greatest passions lay in coaching and football. He spent 40 years coaching, mainly at Warren Hills, but also for Bangor and Belvidere high schools. 

“Coach Fritts was just a gigantic source of energy,” said Warren Hills Math teacher, Football Coach and alumnus Marshall Cuomo, who coached with Fritts for three years. “He was very, very passionate and a great teacher. He was always ready to coach to his absolute max potential. It didn’t matter if we were up 50 or down 50, Coach Fritts never stopped coaching.” 

Fritts was a serious coach, but was never one to shy away from having fun during the games.

“I will always remember him with a laminated football sheet tucked in his shorts dancing to the music that was being played at the stadium with a big smile on his face,” said Warren Hills Industrial Arts teacher and  alumnus Adam Slack.
Not to be limited to football, Fritts also coached Streaks swim, basketball, softball and track teams. Due to his involvement in so many sports at the school, Fritts was honored by Warren Hills through his induction into the Streak Wall of Fame.

“They called him the mayor of Warren County,” said Warren Hills Football Coach and  alumnus Michael Howey. “Or at least that’s what we [the football team] called him. He knew everybody and everybody knew him.”

Off the field and outside the classroom, Fritts was renowned for being a family man. 

“You could see the love and admiration he had for his family,” said Slack. “It was something you do not appreciate until you are much older. You always felt welcome in the Fritts home, and you knew the love in their house was genuine.” 

Fritts left a legacy that will continue for generations, and his contributions to Warren Hills and the community at large will be forever valued.

“It’s rare when you meet somebody like that,” said Cuomo. “He grew up here and is a part of the fabric of the town. He established himself and his family in this area and is a great example of the strength and the power of this Warren Hills community.”