(Given Graham's $12 million buyout, salary should not be an issue at Tulsa. Graham is still young at 54. The fire within Graham still burns intensely.)
EX-ASU COACH TODD GRAHAM HAS FOUND PEACE BUT WHAT HE'S REALLY LOOKING FOR IS A NEW JOB, By Doug Haller, Arizona Republic, August 1, 2018
This is rare territory for Todd Graham. For the first time in 40 years, dating back to his time as a player, the former Arizona State coach is not preparing for a football season.
During a recent conversation, Graham described it as difficult, strange and yet at times, exhilarating. Coaches always talk about "family first" but that's usually not reality, he said. Graham has gotten to reconnect, and in some ways that's brought about a peace.
But it hasn't changed his goal.
"I believe I was born to run programs and to make a difference in kids' lives, so I'm planning to do that," Graham told azcentral sports. "That's what I'm working on every day, spending my time trying to innovate, developing new things defensively and offensively."
Grahm had offers to work this season. He turned them down. It wasn't easy, he said. Coaches are many thngs, but patience usually isn't one. He said he was close to making a rash decision but his wife, pastor, and others convinced him to wait.
Instead, he's directed his focus elsewhere. Since his dismissal--which included a $12 million buyout--of his contract, Graham became a grandfather for the first time in March, his daughter Haylee welcomed a boy named Haksyn. An immediate issue: Graham was not ready to be called Grandpa, so for now he's simply "Pops."
EX-ASU COACH TODD GRAHAM HAS FOUND PEACE BUT WHAT HE'S REALLY LOOKING FOR IS A NEW JOB, By Doug Haller, Arizona Republic, August 1, 2018
This is rare territory for Todd Graham. For the first time in 40 years, dating back to his time as a player, the former Arizona State coach is not preparing for a football season.
During a recent conversation, Graham described it as difficult, strange and yet at times, exhilarating. Coaches always talk about "family first" but that's usually not reality, he said. Graham has gotten to reconnect, and in some ways that's brought about a peace.
But it hasn't changed his goal.
"I believe I was born to run programs and to make a difference in kids' lives, so I'm planning to do that," Graham told azcentral sports. "That's what I'm working on every day, spending my time trying to innovate, developing new things defensively and offensively."
Grahm had offers to work this season. He turned them down. It wasn't easy, he said. Coaches are many thngs, but patience usually isn't one. He said he was close to making a rash decision but his wife, pastor, and others convinced him to wait.
Instead, he's directed his focus elsewhere. Since his dismissal--which included a $12 million buyout--of his contract, Graham became a grandfather for the first time in March, his daughter Haylee welcomed a boy named Haksyn. An immediate issue: Graham was not ready to be called Grandpa, so for now he's simply "Pops."
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