Coach Zimmerman’s Funeral Held

By Marija Ilic

Over the weekend, community, family and friends, and former Alderson Broaddus employees and alumni, came to Philippi to say one last goodbye to former basketball coach Greg Zimmerman, who tragically lost his life earlier last week in a hunting accident in Kentucky.

Zimmerman, who also played basketball at A-B in late 70s, returned to campus in the fall of 2001 to help out with the team whose coach at the time resigned mere weeks before the first game. Just few months later, Battlers were crowned winners of the conference tournament, and went on to NCAA National Tournament, the first of nine that Zimmerman took his teams to.

On Saturday, former players and friends from all over the country came down to Rex Pyles Arena where coach laid in state for two days, to pay their respects, while the official funeral was held on Sunday.

Sunday speakers included former Philippi Baptist Church pastor, Jon Villers; former Alderson Broaddus Athletic Director and softball and volleyball coach, as well as Zimmerman’s classmate, JD Long; former co-worker Jeff Rogers; and two former players from the first championship team, Stephen Dye and Josh Allen. Dye succeeded Zimmerman upon his retirement in 2018, while Allen served as a women’s basketball coach and then Alumni Director at Alderson Broaddus for close to two decades. Attendees also heard from Coach Zimmerman’s daughters, Kristin and Kacey, and one of his granddaughters.

Following the funeral, dinner was held at the former Heiner Hall on campus.