Graham to coach New Brockton softball, volleyball

“I come from a very athletic family,” she said. “My brother played college baseball. I played college volleyball. My father is an umpire. We’ve always been surrounded by sports. My husband is a football coach. We’ve just always been around it.”

Graham, who is originally from Michigan, played volleyball in college at Central Michigan University. She has coached volleyball and other sports at Buckhorn High School in Huntsville and Steinbrenner High School in Lutz, Fla., and middle school softball in Huntsville, and has a vision for the New Brockton softball and volleyball programs.

“I hope to bring some stability. You have to have a coach that’s going to be there and develop the girls all the way from junior high up,” she said. “Being able to coach both sports, especially at a smaller school, I can really get the kids excited and develop them all year around to help tune them into great young athletes.”

The New Brockton volleyball season begins in the fall, and Graham hopes to generate excitement in the program.

“I just want to get the (players) excited about it,” she said. “Along with excitement and the understanding of the program comes the dedication. In turn, the wins are going to come.”

The Lady Gamecock softball team advanced to the regional tournament two seasons ago and looks to continue building on the solid foundation former coach Kris Rainey left.

“I hope to carry that on,” Graham said. “Coach Rainey did a great job of getting those girls ready to play and believing in them. I hope to carry on those traditions they have.”

Along with the field and the court, Graham also expects student-athletes to be successful in the classroom.

“I expect them to be sitting in the front of the class,” she said. “I expect them to be academically successful, and I give them the route to do that if they’re not at the standard I’d like them to be.”

The Lady Gamecocks will also set goals and monitor progress throughout the year.

“There is no way teams can be successful if everybody (does not have) the same goal in mind,” Graham said. “I love to goal set with the girls (to) see where we are at the beginning of the year and see where we are at the end.”

Graham also hopes to forge tightly-knit teams during her tenure.

“I think it’s important the girls understand family — whether that’s your teammates or your family at home — the respect there, the respect of each other,” she said. “All of those things are key components to a successful program.”