Brad Kragthorpe’s Homecoming

Brad’s dad, Steve, was the head coach at TU before leaving for Louisville in 2007. The family moved back to Tulsa last winter and is glad to be back in the Sooner State.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 5:41 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Aug 18, 2010 2:22 PM CDT

Kyle Dierking
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Call it what you want.

On second thought, call it a homecoming for Brad Kragthorpe.

"I just really wanted to have a comfort level my senior year and not start over and make new friends all over again," Kragthorpe said.

The distinct last name should tell you why he's back here and where he's been. Brad's dad, Steve, was the head coach at the University of Tulsa for four years before leaving for Louisville.

After the family spent three seasons in the Bluegrass State, they moved back to Tulsa last winter.

"(Brad’s) experienced a lot of for a kid his age,” said Holland Hall head coach Tag Gross. “He told me earlier this summer that this was his seventh school to go to. So he's used to moving and the college coach’s life."

When Steve got let go at Louisville, he let Brad decide where he wanted to spend his senior year of high school. He says Tulsa and Holland Hall is home.

"This town has been great to my family - not so much in Louisville, but that's one of the reasons why we chose to come back is because we have a real love for this town,” Brad said.

Now Steve will be in town full-time too. He resigned as Texas A&M's wide receivers coach at the end of July, citing family health issues.

He will also get to catch all of Brad's senior season. Steve only made it to four out of 15 games last year when Brad led Louisville Trinity to Kentucky’s 6A state title game.

"Tougher on him than it probably was on me,” Brad said. “That's one of the reasons he decided to come back - he didn't want to miss my senior year, he wanted to watch me play."

That also means a little more time for father to tutor son at quarterback.

"We throw, we watch film, he's my coach,” Brad said. “We always talk football - we watch some of my stuff, we watch some of his stuff.

"It's awesome having him back."

The Kragthorpe's are home. It's a call Brad is glad he made.

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