The Noblesville Grinders made history last season, winning their first-ever state title under new head coach—and former player—Jeremy Ely. With deep community roots and a legacy stretching back decades, the Grinders are building a culture of tradition, pride and championship expectations.
The Noblesville Grinders clinched their first Indiana Elementary Football Association (IEFA) championship with an 8–6 win over Westfield. At the helm was first-year head coach Jeremy Ely—new to the role, but no stranger to the team.
“We were ahead 8-0, and then the other team scored, but missed the point after,” Ely said. “After that, we pretty much ran the clock out. It was a close game. Westfield was a good team.”
As a former Grinder himself, Ely finds coaching the program to be an honor.
“When I was a kid growing up, being on the Grinders was a big deal. It still is now, but Noblesville was a much smaller place when I was younger,” Ely said. “I’ve played football pretty much my entire life, and it’s good to come back and give back to the community in this way.”
Steve Dillinger founded the Grinders in 1969 and coached them for nearly three decades.
“He was my coach when I played,” Ely said. “And he’s still the [team’s] biggest supporter every year. The Grinders are really important to him, and he does a great job of providing anything that we need. It’s a great program. I learned a lot playing for him. It was really nice to win a championship when he’s still around. I got to give him the game ball, too. That meant a lot.”
The Grinders football team is a family tradition for Ely and his brothers.
“I was never on a team with my brothers, but me and them were Grinders back in the day,” Ely said. “We all played for Steve [Dillinger], though. A lot of the guys I was friends with did, too.”
According to Ely, Dillinger is still actively involved in many of the games, often cheering the team on from the sidelines.
“He’s on the sidelines for a lot of our games, even our away games,” Ely said. “[Steve’s] still really active with the Grinders. I meet with him and talk on the phone with him often. It’s a great situation to be in as far as being a coach.”
Currently, four members of the coaching staff are former Grinders players, continuing their connection to the team years later.
“I think it’s nice to have that history,” Ely said. “The Grinders were the best football experience in my whole career. And now, coaching them, it’s a great experience. The years that I played [for the Grinders] were very influential in my life, and I am just paying it forward.”
This season, Ely said he expects similar results to last season. According to him, the precedent has been set.
“The Grinders are looking to be one of the top teams in the state year in and year out,” Ely said. “The Noblesville Elementary Football League does a great job, and that’s just our expectation now. We want to change the culture of Noblesville football, and instead of people thinking about losing, we’re going to be thinking about winning. And not just regular games, but championships, too.”
