Todd Graham
Encyclopedia
Todd Graham is the head football
coach of the University of Pittsburgh
Panthers
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. He was previously the head coach at the University of Tulsa
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
.
, from which he graduated in 1983. He then went on to play at East Central University
in Ada, Oklahoma
, where he was a two-time All-NAIA
defensive back. After graduation from East Central, Graham had a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals
of the NFL.
in his hometown of Mesquite. He later held head coaching positions at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Oklahoma
, and Allen High School
in Allen, Texas
before becoming linebackers coach under Rich Rodriguez
at West Virginia University
in 2001. The following season Graham was assigned to defensive co-coordinator.
In 2003, he was hired by Steve Kragthorpe
as the defensive coordinator at Tulsa, where he helped guide the Golden Hurricane to two bowl games in three seasons. Graham built one of the best defensive units in Conference USA
and the nation before leaving the position following his third year at Tulsa for his first head coaching stint.
after the Owls had finished 1-10 in 2005. At Rice, athletic director Chris Del Conte helped Graham raised $5.5 million for renovating Rice Stadium
and replacing the dated AstroTurf
with FieldTurf
. He hired former University of Texas quarterback Major Applewhite
as his offensive coordinator, replacing the triple option offense Hatfield had been running with a more balanced attack. Behind quarterback Chase Clement and All-American receiver Jarett Dillard
, Rice pulled off the biggest turnaround of the 2006 season, finishing 7-5 and earning an invitation to the New Orleans Bowl
, the school's first bowl game since 1960. Graham was named Conference USA
Coach of the Year, and was rewarded by the Rice administration with the offer of a significant pay raise and contract extension. Instead of signing this extension, Graham left for Tulsa only a few days after. Graham received much criticism for this move. On November 24, 2007, when Tulsa played Rice at Rice Stadium
, the Rice University Marching Owl Band
presented a halftime show
named "Todd Graham's Inferno" (based on Dante's "The Divine Comedy
") which implied that Graham had entered a special circle of Hell
when he abandoned Rice for Tulsa. This resulted in a formal protest to Conference USA
by Tulsa's athletic department. Chuck Throckmorton, the marching band's director, later apologized for offending anyone, but not for the show. Following Graham's exodus, Rice hired David Bailiff
, who led Rice to its 2008 Texas Bowl
victory.
For his offensive coordinators, Graham turned to his good friend Gus Malzahn
, then offensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas
, as well as then WVU tight end
s coach Herb Hand. He also hired former Tulsa quarterback and Tulsa Union HS
coach Bill Blankenship
as wide receivers coach.
With an annual salary of $1.1 million Graham was the second highest-paid coach in Conference USA
, behind SMU's June Jones
in 2010.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
Panthers
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He was previously the head coach at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
.
Playing career
Graham was an all-state defensive back at North Mesquite High SchoolNorth Mesquite High School
North Mesquite High School is a secondary school in Mesquite, Texas. As of 2011, the school serves northern portions of Mesquite and the MISD portion of Garland...
, from which he graduated in 1983. He then went on to play at East Central University
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
in Ada, Oklahoma
Ada, Oklahoma
Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,008 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the city population was estimated at 17,019....
, where he was a two-time All-NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
defensive back. After graduation from East Central, Graham had a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL.
Coaching career
Graham began his coaching career in 1988 as an assistant at Poteet High SchoolPoteet High School (Mesquite, Texas)
Dr. Ralph H. Poteet High School is located at 3300 Poteet Drive in Mesquite, Texas. It opened in 1986 and is named for a former school superintendent, Dr. Ralph H. Poteet. It is the fourth high school built by the Mesquite Independent School District....
in his hometown of Mesquite. He later held head coaching positions at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Oklahoma
Midwest City, Oklahoma
Midwest City is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 54,371, making it the eighth largest city in the state....
, and Allen High School
Allen High School (Allen, Texas)
-Athletics:-Football:The Allen Eagle football program has had five playoff berths and two bi-district championships in six seasons. In 2006 the varsity football team finished its season as the District 9-5A Champions by beating Plano East in the last game of the regular season, 22-17. Its only loss...
in Allen, Texas
Allen, Texas
Allen is a city in Collin County, Texas, United States, a northern suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 census the city had a total population of 84,246.-Geography:According to the City of Allen, the city has a total area of...
before becoming linebackers coach under Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
in 2001. The following season Graham was assigned to defensive co-coordinator.
In 2003, he was hired by Steve Kragthorpe
Steve Kragthorpe
Steve Kragthorpe is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Louisiana State University Tigers football team. He was head coach at Louisville from 2007 to 2009, and for Tulsa from 2003 through 2006.- Early career :Kragthorpe was born in...
as the defensive coordinator at Tulsa, where he helped guide the Golden Hurricane to two bowl games in three seasons. Graham built one of the best defensive units in Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
and the nation before leaving the position following his third year at Tulsa for his first head coaching stint.
Rice
Graham was hired as the head coach at Rice on January 1, 2006, following the resignation of long-time coach Ken HatfieldKen Hatfield
Ken Hatfield is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Air Force Academy , the University of Arkansas , Clemson University , and Rice University , compiling a career college football record of 168–140–4.-Playing...
after the Owls had finished 1-10 in 2005. At Rice, athletic director Chris Del Conte helped Graham raised $5.5 million for renovating Rice Stadium
Rice Stadium
Rice Stadium is a football stadium located on the Rice University campus in Houston, Texas. It has been the home of the Rice University football team since its completion in 1950 and hosted Super Bowl VIII in 1974....
and replacing the dated AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
with FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
. He hired former University of Texas quarterback Major Applewhite
Major Applewhite
Major Lee Applewhite is the Co-Offensive Coordinator and Running Backs Coach for the University of Texas. Prior to Texas, Applewhite served as offensive coordinator at Rice University under Todd Graham in 2006, and at the University of Alabama under Nick Saban in 2007...
as his offensive coordinator, replacing the triple option offense Hatfield had been running with a more balanced attack. Behind quarterback Chase Clement and All-American receiver Jarett Dillard
Jarett Dillard
Jarett Juma Porter Dillard is an American football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college football for Rice. He is also the cousin of Rutherford's LeRon Dillard.-College career:...
, Rice pulled off the biggest turnaround of the 2006 season, finishing 7-5 and earning an invitation to the New Orleans Bowl
New Orleans Bowl
The New Orleans Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana since 2001. The game was sponsored by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from 2002 to 2004 and was officially called the Wyndham New...
, the school's first bowl game since 1960. Graham was named Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
Coach of the Year, and was rewarded by the Rice administration with the offer of a significant pay raise and contract extension. Instead of signing this extension, Graham left for Tulsa only a few days after. Graham received much criticism for this move. On November 24, 2007, when Tulsa played Rice at Rice Stadium
Rice Stadium
Rice Stadium is a football stadium located on the Rice University campus in Houston, Texas. It has been the home of the Rice University football team since its completion in 1950 and hosted Super Bowl VIII in 1974....
, the Rice University Marching Owl Band
Marching Owl Band
The Marching Owl Band is the Rice University "marching band" in the sense that it is the official ensemble that performs during football games, some basketball games, parades, and other public events...
presented a halftime show
Halftime show
A halftime show is a performance given during halftime, the period between the first and second halves, or the second and third quarters, of a sporting event. Halftime shows are not given for sports with an irregular or indeterminate number of divisions , or for sports that do not have an extended...
named "Todd Graham's Inferno" (based on Dante's "The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy
The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature...
") which implied that Graham had entered a special circle of Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
when he abandoned Rice for Tulsa. This resulted in a formal protest to Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
by Tulsa's athletic department. Chuck Throckmorton, the marching band's director, later apologized for offending anyone, but not for the show. Following Graham's exodus, Rice hired David Bailiff
David Bailiff
- References :...
, who led Rice to its 2008 Texas Bowl
2008 Texas Bowl
The 2008 Texas Bowl was the third edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The game was played at 7:00 PM US CST on Tuesday, December 30, 2008. The game, telecast on NFL Network, featured the hometown Rice Owls against the Western Michigan...
victory.
Tulsa
When the Tulsa head coaching position was vacant following the 2002 season, Todd Graham sent in his application. But it was not until five years later that Graham would take over the reins as the Golden Hurricane head coach. After serving three years as Tulsa defensive coordinator and one year as Rice head coach, Graham was introduced as Tulsa's new head football coach on January 12, 2007. He is the 27th head football coach in Golden Hurricane history.For his offensive coordinators, Graham turned to his good friend Gus Malzahn
Gus Malzahn
Gus Malzahn is the current offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Auburn University. Malzahn is a high school coaching legend in the state of Arkansas and the former offensive coordinator at University of Arkansas and the University of Tulsa...
, then offensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
, as well as then WVU tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
s coach Herb Hand. He also hired former Tulsa quarterback and Tulsa Union HS
Union Public Schools
Union Public Schools is a public school district located in southeast Tulsa, and northwest Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The school district is the eleventh largest in Oklahoma. Union is notable among school districts in the area because Union does not encompass a particular city...
coach Bill Blankenship
Bill Blankenship
2011 SeasonBill Blankenship's first season as Tulsa's head coach started out rough. Tulsa had 3 top-10 opponents in the first 4 weeks of the season.September:* Tulsa started out with a game at Oklahoma in Norman and lost 47-17....
as wide receivers coach.
With an annual salary of $1.1 million Graham was the second highest-paid coach in Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
, behind SMU's June Jones
June Jones
June Sheldon Jones, III is the American football head coach for Southern Methodist University.-Playing career:Jones played the quarterback position on three college teams: Oregon , Hawaii , and Portland State . It is during his time at Portland State that he was introduced to the Run and Shoot...
in 2010.