By Mark Ambrogi
Center Grove High School football coach Eric Moore views senior receiver Noah Coy as a prime example of a top student-athlete.
“His work in the classroom speaks volumes toward him being able to go to Notre Dame for college,” Moore said. “His work ethics in athletics is unprecedented by the effort and character he shows as the leader of the team, and one of the best teammates ever. Noah’s intensity for perfection on the field also follows him in every aspect of his life as a student athlete.”
Moore said Coy has a champion’s attitude and is a very humble young man.
“Noah Coy will go a long way to represent CG football and the community for years to come,” Moore said.
Coy, who has committed to playing baseball at the University of Notre Dame, is Center Grove’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards, receiving touchdowns.
Coy has 65 catches for 978 yards and 13 touchdowns this season for Center Grove (8-1). The Trojans, who open Class 6A sectional play against visiting Franklin Central Oct. 27, are seeking their fourth consecutive state title.
“I played varsity my sophomore year and I had a decent year,” Coy said. “Junior year when coach Moore and (assistant) coach (Joe) Siderewicz trusted me that I could do this. I think it showed my junior year that I had a pretty phenomenal year. Definitely just hard work in the weight room helped. My body changed a lot from my freshman to junior year. There were a lot of changes speed-wise and strength-wise. I always had coordination but having added explosiveness allowed them to have trust in me.”
Coy said having senior Tyler Cherry as his quarterback has helped as well.
“We’ve been familiar with each other for a really long time,” Coy said. “He trusts me before I make a break to get open.”
Coy caught 61 passes for 1,147 yards and 13 TDs in 14 games in 2022. He had eight catches for 118 yards as a sophomore.
Coy said he has never had a favorite between the two sports.
“The best thing about both is the competition and meeting new people with each game,” Coy said. “The best thing about baseball is the places it takes you when you travel. For football, it’s the community aspect of it, playing with your buddies.”
Center Grove opened the season with five out-of-state schools, losing to St. Edward (Ohio) in the opener. The wins included ones over perennial strong teams in Louisville Trinity and Cincinnati Moeller.
Coy said it was disappointing not to play traditional rival Carmel this season.
“It’s something new and that attracts new fans,” he said. “It was definitely interesting. You were going into a week, and you watched film but you didn’t know a lot of tendencies. We had to adjust as the game went on.”
As a junior infielder for the baseball team, Coy hit .370 with six doubles, four triples, two home runs and 27 runs batted. The Trojans reached the Class 4A state championship game before losing to Penn 2-0 at Victory Field in June.
Coy said the foundations for both Center Grove football and baseball programs are from the ground up.
“You see that in Bantam and Little League for both sports,” Coy said. “I think the biggest thing about our community is we rally around sports. Having been in the program since I was in kindergarten for both. Both teams work really hard in the off-season, whether it’s the winter for baseball or the summer for football. It’s a nonstop effort, it definitely shows throughout the season.”
THE COY FILE
NAME: Noah Coy
AGE: Turns 18 Oct. 29
HEIGHT: 5-foot-11
CLASS: Senior
COLLEGE PLANS: Will attend University of Notre Dame to study business and play baseball.
SPORTS: Football and baseball
HOBBIES: Cooking on the grill and golf.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Math
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Ken Griffey Jr.
FAVORITE MOVIE: “Remember the Titans”
FAVORITE BAND: Coldplay
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Steamboat Springs, Colo.
PARENTS’ NAMES: Greg and Jennifer Coy
