Gravett named new hoops coach

By JAMES GROB, Courier sports editor

May 05, 2008 06:04 pm

— OTTUMWA — The youth movement continues at Ottumwa High School. Just ask new Ottumwa head basketball coach Chris Gravett, who will turn 30 in June.
“At my age, to direct a Class 4A program in my home town? This is perfect,” Gravett said.
Three months after the announcement that 27-year old Zach Wigle would replace Tom Kopatich at the helm of the Ottumwa football program, Ottumwa high school athletic director Dave Clement revealed Monday that 29-year old Chris Gravett — a home-grown Ottumwan — will replace Mike Holmes as Ottumwa’s new basketball coach.
“It’s a great honor,” said Gravett. “When the opportunity came about, I knew I needed to do it. This is the perfect opportunity for me. This is a great program with great kids.”
Although it’s a new generation of coaches at Ottumwa, the fresh skippers anticipate retaining the hard-nosed, old-school ways of Ottumwa athletics.
“He’s from Ottumwa, so Chris is a person who takes great pride in Ottumwa athletics,” said Clement. “I have every bit of confidence that he will continue with the successful ways of our basketball program — and enhance that.”
Gravett, who teaches fifth grade at Horace Mann, has Bulldog blood running through his veins.
“When you put that jersey on, you represent the entire community,” said Gravett, who graduated from Ottumwa in 1996. “The kids here at Ottumwa do things the right way. They’re tough. They always put forth a great effort.”
Having lived in Ottumwa all his life, Gravett indicated that he feels he is able to relate and empathize with the student-athletes.
“I see a lot of myself when I look at the kids. I know what they’re thinking and what they’re going through,” Gravett said. “I was sitting in their shoes 12 years ago.”
Gravett, who will turn 30 in June, replaces Holmes, who announced just under a month ago that he would be accepting the head coaching position at Southwestern Community College in Creston. Gravett has been an assistant coach under Holmes at Ottumwa since the 2003-2004 season — the year the basketball team advanced to the state semifinals. He was named Class 4A District Assistant Coach of the Year that season as well. He attended college at Buena Vista and has a wife, Kelli.
Gravett indicated that he will continue with Holmes’ unique, disciplined style of play — and Clement indicated that fact had a lot to do with the decision to hire Gravett.
“There might be a few new things,” said Gravett. “But coach Holmes’ system was right for Ottumwa, and I think the kids have bought into this system, so a lot of things will be the same. I learned the importance of preparation from coach Holmes. Our kids are almost always better-prepared than our opponents.”
“That was a big key in our decision,” said Clement. “I believe that Mike Holmes is one of the best coaches in the state, and the system he uses and the emphasis he puts on preparation is good for Ottumwa.”
Only two candidates were considered for the basketball position, according to Clement, and the school did not look at any candidates from outside the school district.
“We didn’t need to look very far,” said Clement. “We knew that the right one for the job was right here.”
Others involved in the hiring process agreed.
“He’s a good educator,” said Ottumwa superintendent Jon Sheldahl. “I’m impressed with his decision-making skills, and he has a good moral compass. We were all sorry to see Mike Holmes go, but we feel the basketball program is in good hands with Chris.”