AURORA | One of the most high-profile vacancies an Aurora prep program has had in recent years has been filled, as Grandview High School announced the hiring of Rob Graham to replace original coach Patty Childress.
Childress announced shortly before the Class 5A state volleyball tournament in the fall that she would step down as head coach of a program she led to the state championship match 10 times and a 493-169 mark.
Grandview has become traditionally Colorado’s elite 5A program as state champions in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2014 and runner-up finishes in five other seasons. In Childress’ final season, the Wolves went 18-9 and were eliminated in a pool play tiebreaker against Denver East. In 2015, Graham led Ponderosa to the semifinals of the 4A state tournament, where the Mustangs lost to Lewis-Palmer to conclude a 20-8 season.
The 46-year-old Graham — a 1988 graduate of Overland who actually did student teaching at Grandview before he was hired as a science teacher and coach at Ponderosa — said he had mixed emotions about leaving his longtime program, but was eager to take over such a quality program.
“I know you don’t get these chances often, so I’m blessed and lucky to come into a situation like this,” Graham told the Sentinel.
Grandview athletic Jamee Ulitzky also feels fortunate to add a coach of Graham’s caliber.
“Coach Graham brings with him an extensive background in coaching having previously been the head coach of Ponderosa High School the past 16 years,” Ulitzky said in a statement.
“We look forward to the future of the Grandview volleyball program under his leadership.”
Graham has received a number of awards while at Ponderosa and was selected 5A Coach of the Year in 2009, when he guided the Mustangs to a 29-4 record and a victory over Highlands Ranch in the state championship match.
Graham also led Ponderosa to the 4A state final in 2014 where it lost to powerhouse Lewis-Palmer and has helped the Mustangs make four semifinals in the past seven seasons.
A former college player at the University of Northern Colorado from 1988-1992, Graham also served as an assistant coach at Heritage for two seasons.
Earlier in the day, Regis Jesuit announced that veteran coach Laura Dunston had retired after 10-plus seasons with the program — which included runs to the state semifinals three times — and Ellen Miks had been hired as her replacement.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
