By Catrina McQuigg
Brett Graves, a football coach from Haysville, North Carolina, has been hired at Copper Basin High School to take over the Cougars gridiron program.
The announcement of the new Cougar leader was made last week by school Principal Holly Smith.
Graves was born and raised in Haysville, North Carolina. He was not just a student at Hayesville High School, but also part of the Yellow Jacket’s football team. Graves said one of his memories of playing came in 2010 when Copper Basin beat the Yellow Jackets 42-10. With a bit of a laughter in his voice, he said, “it was a big loss and we just couldn’t make a comeback.”
Excited to get started in his new role, Graves said, “I know there is a lot of pride at Copper Basin...everyone is excited about the new program...everyone has been very welcoming.”
Graves said he has been around great mentors, and many coaches with great experience.
Concerns have arisen around Copper Basin of a team with young talent and many football players have left. Neither bother Graves who said he he has lots of experience with rebuilding a team. He told how he has had to start from the bottom and work his way up. Hard work resulted in his teams making the playoffs three years in a row, with this past year the team advancing through Round Two.
Graves looks forward to building excitement in the program while at the same time leading young people in the right direction. He wants to help the players graduate with a plan for life after football.
His long term goal is to win a state championship. “This is what drives me,” Graves said.
Graves plans to be involved with youth football week. “I want kids to learn to love the game,” he said.
Graves said that getting in the weight room and eating right are important to being a successful football player, both things he will encourage..
His mission statement is to give the kids 100 percent of himself, and not be any different as a coach several years from now.
Graves said, “Team before “I” ...when things go bad, you gotta find the good in it.”