Kazee-Hollifield welcomes familiar face back to softball program as an assistant
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head softball coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield announced Wednesday that Michael Graves has been hired as the program’s new assistant coach.
Graves was a volunteer assistant last year and worked as Kazee-Hollifield's lead assistant from 1992-2001.
He replaces Nancy Branim who leaves to coach softball in Florida closer to her family.
"It feels good to be back," Graves said. "Last year was a lot of fun being here as a volunteer. But it's nice to be back full time and to be able to go out and recruit and make this place rock."
Graves coached five All-Americans in his tenures at C-N. He helped tutor Kelli Hensley to her record-setting season last year and guided Carson-Newman Hall of Famers Sammi Hatcher and Heather Randolph to All-American seasons in the mid-90s. In addition, first basemen Lindi Bordine and Brandi Hardin also earned All-American honors in 1993 and 1992, respectively.
"Coach Hollifield and I have been together for a long time," Graves said. "We can read each other's minds it seems like and that picked up last year when I came back. I'd walk across the dugout and meet her in the middle and the same thing would come out of our mouths."
In addition, Graves has helped tutor 13 all-region selections and 42 all-conference picks. He counts Randolph, Hatcher, Libby Conley and Staci Fish among the best players he's coach.
He admits the loss of seniors Brittany Hefner, Sara Kelley and Caitlyn Lance from last year's team will be fairly difficult to replace.
"Those three players were pretty special and I wish I had more time with them," Graves said. "It'll be hard to replace Hef and Kelley power wise, then Lance was one of the best defensive first basemen I've ever seen. The kids we'll bring in, hopefully they'll look back and learn from what they did and strive to be better than them."
Graves resides in Alcoa, Tenn. with his wife Megan. Together they have two dogs, Tebeau, a 60-pound boxer, and a 130-pound German shepherd named Bear.
