Coach Graham set to retire following end of school year
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(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO | DAVID FLYNN) Lady Blues basketball coach Ky Graham will call it a career following the end of the school year. Coach Graham credits his wife Lanis (left) and the work ethic of his athletes for the success in his coaching career.
The closing of the school year marks the official end of an era for Lady Blues basketball. Coach Ky Graham announced his retirement from teaching and coaching following seven years at Graham High School. Coach Graham will end a 20-year coaching career that included stints at Friona and Breckenridge.
Graham grew up in Friona and graduated from Lubbock Christian University, with a degree in Ag Economics. Farming was a passion of Graham’s and he enjoyed remaining in the town he grew up in. However, coaching was something that always sat in the back of his head after first getting to experience it in high school.
“Even when I was in high school, I coached,” Graham said. “We had a system where the high school basketball (team) would coach the Little Dribblers. Two of us would have a team and I just loved that. I looked forward to it every year. I just have a competitive nature. (...) But for some reason, I always felt like (...) even if I got a degree, I was gonna come back and farm. I loved the day that I got to graduate college and go back home.”
To find when Graham discovered his love for basketball, you have to go back to when he was in seventh grade. Friona High School went to the state basketball tournament during Graham’s seventh-grade year, the 1973-1974 school year. Friona lost in the 2A championship game 76-66 to Bowie. The tournament run is one of the earliest moments of Graham’s memory when he wanted to coach.
For the full story, see the Saturday, May 7 edition of The Graham Leader.
