Former Texas Tech Volleyball Coach Tony Graystone Responds to Allegations

It has been nearly a month since Tony Grayston was terminated for cause from his position as head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders following allegations of physical abuse, medical mistreatment and felony battery. Now, he is telling his side of the story, according to a report from Nathan Giese and Josh Peter of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and USA Today.

Graystone reportedly threw a volleyball at a player during a "competitive, high-energy drill" where coaches spiked balls at players on Aug. 10, 2026. After one player took her turn, she walked away while making a comment, "egging" him on, according to Graystone.

During a Sept.13 meeting with Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt, Graystone did not deny the contents of the video, but claimed that it did not provide adequate context for the situation and did not show him later apologizing to the player.

Why did Texas Tech fire volleyball coach Tony Graystone for cause?

A new report details the allegations that preceded the decision. pic.twitter.com/H2T73bLsEg
— Volleyball On SI (@VolleyballOnSI) September 28, 2026

Graystone further stated that the player seemingly forgot the incident even happened until he reminded her.

In that meeting, Graystone claims Hocutt asked about the accused player's playing time, or lack thereof, a topic that the player and Graystone had discussed just days before. Hocutt denies that playing time was ever discussed.

The video is not the only allegation Hocutt received regarding Graystone's behavior.

On Sept. 10, Texas Tech was scheduled to play a doubleheader. Graystone decided to change the starting lineup prior to the second game, against HBCU Prairie View A&M. The change included starting the only two black players on the team. He claimed he told the locker room of the change and while trying to "encourage the new starters", his comments were interpreted differently than intended.

"I did interject in the locker room, and I called their names and said, 'Hey, this is your match. You're starting."

Hocutt claims these allegations did not impact his decision to terminate Graystone. Nor did Graystone's claim that the player in the video was upset about playing time.

Graystone says Texas Tech did not conduct a formal investigation beyond reviewing the video and Graystone acknowledging that he did throw the ball at the player.

New details have emerged surrounding Tony Graystone’s shocking departure from Texas Tech volleyball.

Graystone was fired for cause after nearly 11 seasons leading the Red Raiders. pic.twitter.com/zzQ66iJc2G
— Volleyball On SI (@VolleyballOnSI) September 24, 2026

How Have Current Players and Parents Responded?

It's been difficult to get players and their parents to speak on the record about the situation, but those who have agreed to talk express displeasure at how Texas Tech has handled it.

Giese and Peter reached out to more than dozen parents but only a few agreed to speak.

One parent said they could understand if Graystone had been fired for on-court performance but couldn't accept that his character was being questioned.

"It just crushes me," the parent said, "to see them attack his character."

Parents of current players who saw the practice video and spoke to USA Today agreed the player was hit but disputed how, where, and how hard the ball hit her. Another parent, who had not seen the video, claimed that the accusing player was "joking and laughing" with Graystone.

"She did say he threw the ball at her," Don Sigman, whose daughter is junior Gretchen Sigman, said, "but both parties were kind of joking and laughing at the time."

According to the USA Today report, players and parents expressed frustration towards Hocutt about how the firing was handled, specifically regarding the lack of information he provided about the termination.

Hocutt said he understood the frustration but his position as Athletic Director restricted what and how much information he was able to share. "Based on the information that was brought to me, I made the only decision I felt that could be made at that time."

Graystone intends to re-enter the coaching world at some point. In order to do that, he knows he would have to clear his name of such allegations.

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