SPECIAL REPORT: Coach Grant’s biggest battle

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Leaving a legacy. Head Football Coach Wally Grant led the Yellow Jackets in back-to-back championships during his five years of coaching at Palo Verde.

He wants to continue changing lives but now his own life is on the line.

"This is tough and you know, two years ago this isn't how I imagined I'd be going out," said Wally Grant, Palo Verde Yellow Jackets head coach.

Coach Grant is battling stage four colon and liver cancer but that's not stopping him from getting his players ready for next season.

It's something they don't take for granted, and it pushes them to work even harder than before.

"The fact that he's out here right now really shows his dedication for the team and makes me really wanna win … Put another banner for football and bring Palo Verde together as a town," said Douglas Meeks, junior left tackle.

Coach Grant has 30 years of experience coaching football, bringing his skills over to Palo Verde in 2019.

He says how he runs a program is old school, but it works.

"I mean we are running a 1960's variation of football with our double wing run heavy. You know there's some games where we don't attempt to pass. There's other games where I think I'm throw crazy and we'll throw six passes, but it's all generated off our success running the ball," explains Coach Grant.

He says there's a system involved and when he throws it, he expects it to be a big play or touchdown.

"It's not like we run to the same spot," Coach Grant adds. "There's gaps in every defense and we only run four running plays, but each one has a specific gap they're going to and that depends on what the defense is giving us at that particular time."

Grant says he was blessed with learning this system from football coaches Don Markham and particularly Myron Miller, who he coached with for nearly 20 years in Orange County, California.

"To be honest with you, I don't have an original idea. I've stolen everything from people who are much more knowledgeable than I am," Coach Grant says.

He also took some tips from his step-son and former NFL player Matt McCoy who was a second round draft pick for the Eagles in 2005.

Coach Grant took all the information he absorbed and turned the whole Palo Verde football program upside down, knowing what it took to win.

He says at first there was hesitation from the school about how he wanted to go about coaching, but it didn't take long for them to hop on board and show support.

"It's not going to be successful, you have to throw the ball and all that stereotype and then all of a sudden we started doing it, started to have a little success and then all of a sudden it was holy smokes, why is this working?"

He proved his system was promising and his administration and school board blessed him with a freshmen football program, one they hadn't had in over 20 years.

Coach Grant knew what was needed in order for these kids to develop and that success speaks for itself.

Winning back-to-back San Diego Section Championships in 2021 and 2022, though it's the victories off the gridiron that mean the most to him.

"When these kids start having success off the field is what motivates me, it's what drives me," says Coach Grant.

A great example is former Yellow Jacket running back Markus Macon who has taken his talent to the collegiate level.

"There was a time where I wanted to stop playing football during my junior year, and I feel like that was a big moment in my life," says Macon. "And he talked to me about it saying that football could help change my life, not only for me, but the people around me."

Coach Grant found out about his cancer at the beginning of April 2023 and was told if he didn't act fast, he wouldn't make it past Christmas but instead beat the odds.

"I went through aggressive, I'm still going on like round 15 of chemo," Grant says.

Coach Grant says he missed a lot of last season and tips his hat to his assistant coaches.

Coach Scott Richards says how Coach Grant brought the community together is remarkable.

"When we won that first championship, to be able to go down there and I swear it was like it in the movies. Our whole town packed up," And when we got down there to San Diego, we had more people than Mission Bay. Nobody will ever be able to forget what he did here. He's left his footprint on Palo Verde football forever."

From players not even knowing about the game of football to now dominating on the field, junior offensive and defensive lineman Wesley Mays sees Coach Grant as an inspiration.

"When doctors told him he wouldn't be able to come and coach and I remember him saying like, screw that, I'm still going to be here for you guys," Mays recalls. "That has dramatically influenced me to be out here and give it everything I got every single day."

Captain Jaydon Castillo says he has learned from Coach Grant in many ways and has the utmost respect for the man.

"He just shows that strength. He comes out here even when he doesn't feel like it. During practice we would see him grip the side of his liver and that just honestly breaks my heart," says Castillo. "And in the games I try to lead by example being the captain that I am and just having all of us come together before the games and at practice to pray for Coach Grant, and just overall succeed for Coach Grant. He's the extra push that we need."

Castillo says Coach Grant truly is a coach, one of one. He believes in him and the whole system the has.

"I just love him in general," Castillo adds.

Coach Grant thanks his family, his four kids and his wife Tammy, for their support through it all.

"She's been an angel and she's suffering through this. Through the good times, through the bad times. Probably harder than ... excuse me, harder than I am," says Coach Grant.

Coach says the cancer he has is not one he can beat, but he'll surely put up a good fight.

"It's the competitor in me. You know, as much as I love the game of football, I love what it can do outside the lines. And for me to show them that, you know, I'm not quitting, I'm going to battle and to compete, I just thought that was a life lesson," Coach Grant continues.

As for Coach Grant's last wish...

"You know, as a person that I was a a good person, that I did right. As a coach, that I brought that success to these kids long after their playing days," Coach Grant says.

He is very hopeful for this upcoming season and says he'll remain on the sideline as long as he's able. 

If you would like to help Coach Grant with medical expenses, you can find his GoFundMe here.