'A freak thing.' Maclay basketball coach Granger fractures kneecap in practice collision
Gene Granger enjoyed an injury-free basketball career that spanned Florida High to Tallahassee Community College to Charleston Southern.
He was a starter and key player at each level, advancing to consecutive state tournaments with the Seminoles and averaging nearly double digits in 85 career games at Charleston Southern.
Naturally, Granger never envisioned being hurt while coaching basketball. Two Fridays ago, the Maclay School boys coach suffered a fractured kneecap that requires surgery.
“It’s just one of those things – accidents happen,” Granger said.
“We are doing really well and, as I told our guys, I don’t want this to cause our momentum to shift. I think everyone has responded and we’ll get through this. I will be fine, it's not the end of the world."
“It was just a freak thing.”
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Surgery is scheduled
Granger is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday for a patellar (kneecap) fracture.
Granger expects a "speedy" return to coaching this season even though a full recovery could take six months. Class 3A Maclay (15-6) ends its regular season this week and district tourneys open across the state Feb. 8.
Granger was injured Jan. 21 during the Marauders’ on-campus practice.
No, it’s not what you might be thinking.
Granger – at age 41 - chuckled and said he knows better than to scrimmage with players 20-plus years younger than him. He also knows how to safely navigate his popular skill camps and strength and conditioning sessions with players across the state.
Granger was actually injured while standing stationary near the foul line during a layup drill.
As players dribbled and made full-speed counter moves around him towards the basket, one accidently collided with Granger.
The two banged left knees.
Maclay closes regular season
The player was fine, but Granger wasn’t as he tumbled to the court in pain.
“Fortunately, we had a home soccer match that night so our athletic director and medical personnel were there and able to stabilize my leg and get ice on it,” Granger said.
X-rays later that evening revealed a broken knee cap (the upper half of it was pushed up into his lower thigh). Granger was fitted with a leg brace and crutches. His players and others reached out via text to check on him.
While not able to stand for extended lengths of time, Granger coached in two of Maclay’s four games last week, including Saturday’s 45-42 win over Mosley. He also attended the team's photograph session last Thursday.
Maclay (15-6) closes its regular season this week against Godby and Jacksonville Ribault.
Granger credits his assistant coaches – Kendall Randolph, Cornell Thomas, Caden Knott and Garrison Rolle – and players for their preparation and focus during his absence.
Granger said he too learned his lesson.
While a cone or a chair could be substituted for a coach during layup lines with counter moves, Granger said he or an assistant "always" stand on the foul line for the drill.
"A real body is always better than a cone or a chair," said Granger, married with two young children.
"But it's definitely not worth the trouble of knee to knee."
Reach Jim Henry at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Maclay boys basketball coach fractures kneecap in practice collision
