Though he was well known as a pro wrestler, Pugh’s athletic exploits began at Laurel High and he continued to influence area athletes.
“He was heavily involved,” Kevin Walmsley, the Laurel High athletic director, said Wednesday. “He was at school almost every day . . . It’s a huge tragedy for the community.”
Pugh was a first-team All-Henlopen Conference Southern Division fullback and linebacker and honorable mention All-State linebacker before graduating from Laurel in 2002 on teams coached by his father, Mike.
More recently, he was an assistant coach on the Laurel Middle School football team, on which his son Gannon played, and also coached youth basketball in the town.
In addition, Pugh regularly visited with and inspired Laurel athletes, Walmsley said.
“With the kids at practice, teaching skills, techniques, some of them knew he was a star in professional wrestling and some didn’t know that,” Walmsley said. “But he treated every kid the same and he’s gonna be missed.
“You saw him at the local store. He gave back. All the kids knew him. Just a true motivator.”
Laurel School District announced on Facebook Tuesday night that all schools would be closed Wednesday "due to an unthinkable tragedy in our community."
Jamin Pugh, who went by the stage name, Jay Briscoe, was 38. Delaware State Police are investigating the fatal crash.
www.delawareonline.com