Graves returns for his 16th season as a member of the Carson-Newman softball coaching staff and is the program's second ever head coach.  He was named to that position on May 3, 2018 after spending two weeks as an interim head coach following Vickee Kazee-Hollifield's retirement.  Graves begins his sixth year as the program's head coach. 

In his five full seasons at the helm of the program, Graves has coached Carson-Newman to a trio of NCAA Southeast Regional appearances. In 2018, as the Eagles' interim head coach, he also captained C-N to a regional appearance, as well as a SAC tournament title. 

Since taking over as head coach, Graves has tutored a pair of Players of the Year, a Freshman of the Year and a Pitcher of the Year for the South Atlantic Conference.  He has coached five All-Americans (Lacie Rinus, Abby Fiessinger, Leah Sohm, Emily Harris and Macauley Bailey). 

Graves was a volunteer assistant in 2014 and worked as Kazee-Hollifield's lead assistant from 1992-2001.

Carson-Newman won either a regular season or tournament crown in all but one of Graves' years as a paid assistant on Kazee-Hollifield's staff. 

Graves coached 13 All-Americans in his tenures at C-N.  He helped tutor Kelli Hensley, as well as Elayna Siebert and Bre Lockett to their record-setting seasons in 2014 and 2015, respective. Then coached his first All-Americans who were also freshmen in 2017 in Lacie Rinus and Abby Fiessinger. He also guided Carson-Newman Hall of Famers Sammi Hatcher and Heather Randolph to All-American seasons in the mid-90s.  In addition, first basemen Lindi Bordine and Brandi Hardin also earned All-American honors in 1993 and 1992, respectively.

In addition, Graves has helped tutor 18 all-region selections and 57 all-conference picks.  He counts Randolph, Hatcher, Libby Conley and Staci Fish among the best players he's coached.

Carson-Newman is 483-162 with Graves as an assistant. 

Graves resides in Alcoa, Tenn. with his wife Megan and daughter Alexis. They also have a dog, a boxer, named Penny.