Younger Grantham takes over Greene Central football program

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on May 15, 2008 3:49 PM

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SNOW HILL -- The opportunity to go home again was more than Ken Grantham could pass up.

Grantham was formally introduced as the new head football coach at Greene Central High School on Wednesday afternoon. He replaced Jim Bob Bryant and became the sixth head coach in Greene Central history since the school opened in 1961.

"This is a tremendous asset for our student athletes," said Greene Central principal Dr. Randy Bledsoe. "This is truly one of those events that I believe we'll look back on and remember as a big part of our history."

A 1985 Greene Central graduate and the son of former Greene Central head coach Spence Grantham, Ken Grantham has served as head football coach at Nash Central High School since 2002. He started that program from the ground up.

Before arriving at Nash Central, Grantham began his coaching and teaching career at Camden High School in 1990. Grantham guided both Camden and Nash Central into the third round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Grantham, 40, attended Lenoir-Rhyne College and completed his degree in physical education at East Carolina University.

Comfortably optimistic in the future of the program he helped to build at Nash Central, Grantham found himself sought out as the next Rams' head coach. He wasn't actively seeking a new job.

After agreeing to come visit his old stomping grounds and listen to the school's administration, Grantham knew it was time to return home.

"It wasn't something I was really looking into," said Grantham. "I had talked to (assistant coach) Andrea Quinerly during the offseason and I really thought he was going to be the person who got the job. I told them I wasn't really out looking for a job or anything like that.

"I was really impressed with Dr. Bledsoe. They just made me feel real comfortable and real good here."

Known for running a triple-option offense, Grantham intends to implement a similar offense with a glimmer or two of a shotgun spread offense style attack as well. With standout quarterback William Brown and go-to receiver Curtis Braswell lost to graduation, finding playmakers on offense will be a priority for Grantham.

"I know one thing about Greene Central. They always have tough nosed kids that will play hard," Grantham said. "They've always been quick kids that will get after you. I think that's probably still the case here. I've talked to two quarterbacks here and one is a sophomore and the other is a freshman.

"They seem like smart kids that catch onto things quickly."

The Rams finished 8-4 last season and reached the first round of the 2-A (small-school) playoffs before falling 21-10 to Bunn. Grantham is realistic in his expectations as well as the pressure that comes with living up to his father's success.

"My dad was around here for a long time and he has sort of legendary status," said Grantham. "It can be a little intimidating sometimes. I think if I do close to what he was able to do I'll be just fine."