Cub Football - Loyola legend Steve Grady to be inducted into Hall of Fame Saturday at the Rose Bowl
STEVE GRADY '63, LEGENDARY LOYOLA PLAYER AND COACH TO BE INDUCTED INTO CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
No individual in the storied championship annals of Loyola football has accomplished more at the highest levels as both a player and coach than STEVE GRADY '63.
On Saturday at the Rose Bowl during UCLA's game against Fresno State, which kicks off at 12:30 p.m., GRADY will be inducted into the California High School Football Hall of Fame, cementing his place among California's all-time prep football legends.
The deserving honor is befitting of his amazing playing and coaching careers in the long history of California prep football.
GRADY is the only individual ever to be named as a Cal-Hi Sports State Player of the Year (1962) and State Coach of the Year (2003).
A three year varsity starter for the Cubs, GRADY was selected as the 1962 CIF Southern Section AAAA Player of the Year after leading Loyola to the school's first CIF Southern Section AAAA title as a single wing tailback. The rugged 6-0, 205 lb. speedster led the state with 2,097 rushing yards (6.6 yards per carry) and 35 touchdowns. He also passed for an additional 10 touchdowns.
GRADY scored 217 points for the undefeated (12-0) 1962 Catholic League champion Cubs, who outscored their opponents 387-87.
Following his graduation from "The High", GRADY played under John McKay at USC and had a brief stint in the NFL.
After a short time working in his family's business, GRADY returned to his prep alma mater in the early 1970s as a teacher and coach. He took over the reins as Loyola's varsity head football coach in 1976.
In his 29-year career (1976-2004) as the steward of the Cub Football program, GRADY amassed a 269-76-6 record. One of California's all-time great prep football mentors, he established an incomparably tough culture, the foundations of which were discipline, accountability, relentless year-round hard work, pride and uncommon physicality.
His teams were respected as among the toughest prep football squads in the nation. Opposing coaches often lamented that their players were sore for a week after battling GRADY-coached squads.
Over the span of his nearly three-decade tenure, Loyola's famed 'Wolfpack' defensive units relinquished an average of just 10.9 points per game. That incredible level of defensive domination over such a long period will likely never again be duplicated.
A detailed, demanding task master with keen, unwavering attention to detail, GRADY frequently did more with less than many of his heralded peers. And at the end of the day, that ability is one of the true hallmarks of truly great head mentors.
GRADY coached the Cubs to CIF Southern Section Division I championships in 1990 and 2003 and led Loyola to CIF Southern Section Division I title game appearances in 1992, 1995, 1996 and 2000. He was selected by Cal-Hi Sports in 2003 as the California State Coach of the Year.
From 1988-2004 GRADY's Cub squads advanced to the CIF Division I semifinals, or beyond, eleven times, which was an absolutely amazing run of excellence, especially at a premier academic school.
Eighty-five of GRADY's players earned ALL-CIF honors and four were accorded Player of the Year accolades (linebacker DREW CASANI (1990), defensive end/tight end ANTOINE HARRIS (1996), quarterback/safety MATT WARE (2000) and quarterback SCOTT DEKE (2003)). One hundred eighty of his players went on to play college football, and several went on to successful NFL careers.
GRADY was inducted into the CIF Southern Section Hall of Fame in 2016.
STEVE GRADY set incomparable standards for Loyola players and coaches alike. His place in Cub Football lore will be an everlasting testament to Loyola's championship legacy in California prep football.