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Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Editor's Cut: Greg Graham
Central Indiana, IN
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By: Brian Moore, HSSTM // VYPE
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Photo(s) By: David Dixon
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Brian Moore caught up with new Warren Central boys basketball coach Greg Graham
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If you want to make a team competitive, you’ve got to play the best. To be the best you’ve got to beat the best.
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HSSTM // VYPE High School Sports Magazine Managing Editor, Brian Moore, caught up with new Warren Central head boys basketball coach Greg Graham to find out about his transition to coaching, coming back to his alma mater and his expectations on the coming season.
Graham is a graduate of Warren Central High School and Indiana University, where he starred on the basketball court and in the classroom. During his time with Bob Knight and the Hoosiers, IU advanced to the 1992 Final Four and won two Big Ten Conference championships. In the 1993 NBA Draft, Graham was selected 17th overall by the Charlotte Hornets. He played five NBA seasons for the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Seattle Supersonics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
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MOORE: So, how are you doing so far?
GRAHAM: Feeling pretty good. You know, it’s been a whirlwind since I started, as you can imagine, but I hit the ground running.
MOORE: I know that’s your personality from the times we’ve talked in the past. Before we talk about your new job at Warren Central, what made you decide you wanted to get into coaching?
GRAHAM: Well, I’ve always wanted to get into coaching ever since I was in college. Unfortunately, or fortunately, however you want to look at it, I had an opportunity to go play pro basketball and it kind of sets you back in the coaching profession as far as once you come out of pro basketball, everybody thinks that you’re the spoiled athlete, everybody caters to you and you don’t work hard to get things. That is so far from the truth. As far as this job, this was discussed some years back, that if the opportunity ever came up, that I would be interested.
MOORE: That said, when you applied for the Warren Central job, did you think you’d get it – or was it just one of those situations where you say, “Hey, this is my alma-mater, I’ve always wanted to get into coaching, the job’s open, I’ve got to apply”?
GRAHAM: I didn’t apply for it knowing that I would get it, but I knew I would be at the top of the list and knew that I would get serious consideration because of my background. I’m someone who can relate to the students and teach and encourage them because they’re going to go through what I went through. What better person to put in front of them that someone who’s had some success and went out and done some things? It’s what I’m trying to bring back here, to teach them and inspire them for things that come down the road.
MOORE: Is that part of your coaching philosophy or principles? What kind of coach do you want to be? How will you take your experiences at IU and in the NBA and apply them to coaching this team?
GRAHAM: I think it’s a different dynamic for me as far as coaching. The only other experience I’ve had coaching is semi-pro ball. At that level, it’s more like managing personalities and egos as opposed to the high school level where coaching is like teaching, motivating and inspiring. I think I’m good at that because I was once that student-athlete, sitting there and wanting to hear from all walks of life – coaches, players administrators – and what they had to say. And I want to teach these kids some of those things.
MOORE: Have you talked to Coach Knight, any of your other former coaches ore even new colleagues about getting into the coaching ranks? If so, what words of advice did they pass along to you?
GRAHAM: You know, I’ve been so busy since I got this job that I haven’t had time to reflect and ask people advice. Even though our team will be competing against Lawrence North and Jack Keefer, I view him as a wonderful coach, a coach that has done some things and a coach I respect because of his tenure and what he’s done at LN. I plan on calling him, coach Knight and anybody in the coaching profession not just to seek advice, but to let them know what I am doing and what I aspire to do.
MOORE: I know it’s only summer, but have you given any thought to that first game this fall, when you step out on the floor as a coach, and what your emotions might be?
GRAHAM: I haven’t really. I’m looking forward to that first game, but I also look at it that it’s not about me – it’s about the kids on the floor. As long they work hard and compete, it’s always going to be about them. I know most of the focus will be on me because I played here, at IU and professionally and I don’t mind that, but it’s not about me; it’s about these kids. I’m here to coach them and motivate them and inspire them and prepare them for life.
MOORE: Did you catch many of Warren’s games last year? Obviously, the roster has changed due to graduation, but what kind of outlook do you have on the upcoming season? In a very challenging sectional (Class 4A Sectional 10), what kind of team do you want this to be?
GRAHAM: I just got the tapes from last season. I envision us being competitive. I’m not going to go out and say we’ll win a state championship this year – but those are my goals. We will get to that point. It’s not going to happen in one year. My main goal is to get this team mentally and physically prepared for a grueling upcoming season. I mean, I’m sitting here looking at this schedule and this (the MIC) is probably the best conference in the state. Not only that, but we’re playing schools we didn’t play when I was here. I want to play the top schools, I expect the challenge. If you want to make a team competitive, you’ve got to play the best. To be the best you’ve got to beat the best.
MOORE: Talking about preparing the team mentally and physically, what are you doing with the guys over the summer to get them there?
GRAHAM: Well, first of all, I introduced my conditioning program to them in mid-May, about the time I was hired and confirmed by the school board. A couple days after that, I had 6 a.m. conditioning: out on the track, running, doing stairs. Then, we come inside, get in the weight room and do some court work. We come back in the afternoon and have open gym. The kids have been real receptive to that; it’s a real change and a new coach with a different philosophy. They’ve been excellent in responding and accepting that, and I think that’s going to make us better down the road.
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