For Antonio Graham, head coach at Owasso High School, football is more than just a game. It has served as his lifeline, guiding him through some of life’s hardest moments. Growing up in a challenging environment, Graham relied on football for structure and a way forward. It shaped him into the man and coach he is today.
Graham’s life took a heartbreaking turn in ninth grade when his father was murdered two days before Christmas. “My dad was everything to me,” he recalls. “He taught me morals, how to be respectful, and how to navigate life.” That devastating loss left a young Graham reeling, but his coaches stepped in when he needed them the most.
“My coaches, counselors, and teachers wrapped their arms around me,” Graham explains. “It took a village. I didn’t tell many people about my dad’s death, but when my coaches found out, they did whatever they could to help me through it.”
“My coaches, counselors, and teachers wrapped their arms around me. It took a village. I didn’t tell many people about my dad’s death, but when my coaches found out, they did whatever they could to help me through it.
Antonio Graham
That support from his coaches influenced Graham’s decision to pursue coaching. “After college, I knew without a doubt that I would go into coaching,” Graham says. “My coaches didn’t just teach me football—they taught me life. I wanted to give that same impact to others.”
Graham now instills in his players the values he lived through. His motto—”No excuses, high expectations, no explanations”—reflects his personal journey. “If I could go through all that and still show up for football practice, still graduate, still get my master’s degree, then they can handle their challenges,” he says. “I beat the odds, and they can too.”
When his players bring him excuses, Graham shares his story. “Many kids don’t know my background, but when they do, it gives them a wake-up call,” Graham says. “I tell them I grew up without a dad, faced a lot of challenges, but I still made it. When they hear that, they realize their situation isn’t as bad as they thought.”
This philosophy has helped Graham build a program where players stay committed, even in an era of frequent transfers. “We have 45 seniors this year, the most we’ve had in a long time,” Graham states. “That tells me our kids are buying in and staying.”
Beyond the wins and losses, Graham focuses on building strong relationships with his players. “Football is just the tool we use to teach these kids about life,” Graham says. “When you build real relationships and show them you care, they stay, and they grow.”
Football is just the tool we use to teach these kids about life
Antonio Graham’s story could have taken a tragic path, but instead, his life was shaped by his coaches inflluence. Now he uses his experiences to uplift others. “My coaches saved me,” Graham reflects. “They didn’t have to, but they did. Now, it’s my turn to give back. Football gave me everything, and now I’m using it to give back to these kids.”
For Graham, the true victory isn’t on the scoreboard but in the lives he impacts, just as his coaches did for him.
