Tony Graves joined the Fighting Saints in July of 2013 as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team. The 2025-26 season will mark Graves’ 12th year as assistant coach.
At St. Francis, Graves assists the program in coordination of practice plans, individual player development, assisting in training sessions, and implementation of game strategies.
Prior to joining the Fighting Saints staff, Graves spent the three seasons at International Sports Management in Merrillville, Ind. as a scout/player development trainer. From 2008-09, Graves served as an assistant coach to the Thornridge High School boys’ varsity basketball program where he oversaw the tactical skill development and assisted with implementation of game plans and strategy.
Graves began his coaching career in 2005 as the volunteer head basketball coach at Edna Keith Elementary. In 2009, he accepted the role as the head coach at Lynn Thigpen Elementary, before taking the head coaching title at Laraway Elementary in 2012, a position in which he still serves.
Graves graduated from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Okla. in 1991 with an associate’s degree before earning a bachelor’s degree from NCAA Division I Southwest Missouri State University in 1993. While at NEO (1989-1991), Graves was named to the All-Conference team and selected as a Pre-Season All-American. At SMSU, he was a six-time recipient of Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors, and also a MVC All-Conference pick. He was a key contributing member of the Bears’ team that qualified for the 1991-92 NCAA Tournament, as well as the 1992-93 NIT.
Upon graduation, Graves as drafted by the Hartford Bobcats out of the CBA, and signed a professional contract as member of the 1993 New York Knicks Summer League. From 1993-2005, Graves played professionally in the International Basketball League.
