Hometown Victory: A Coach's Story of Football, Fate, and Coming Home

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 84 ratings

Price: 13.12

Last update: 05-18-2024


About this item

The Blindside meets Friday Night Lights in Keanon Lowe's Hometown Victory when an NFL coach returns home after losing a friend to opioids to coach a team of struggling high school kids on a 23-game losing streak.

Keanon Lowe was working as an offensive analyst for the San Francisco 49ers when his childhood friend and former high school teammate suddenly died from an opioid overdose. Keanon dropped everything–including the plum NFL job he had been working towards since childhood–leading him to a position as football coach at a struggling high school back in his hometown. At the time, Parkrose High School was in the middle of a 23-game losing streak–they were the ultimate underdogs.

In many ways, the road to Parkrose was paved by Keanon's life-defining experiences–from a childhood spent dodging racist bullies and finding the support and mentorship he craved on the football team, to an NFL season where he worked closely with Colin Kaepernick as he evolved his sideline protest. Keanon was drawn to the young men on the Parkrose team, and to the school itself. After two years, he pushed them to become conference champions, mentoring countless players along the way.

But still, there was that nagging sense that his calling wasn't meant to stop there. He was at that school for a reason. In May 2019, he got his answer when a 19-year-old student entered a Parkrose classroom with a trench coat and shotgun. Keanon disarmed him and pulled the boy into a hug, telling him he cared. In the boy, Keanon saw himself, and the young men he grew up with or mentored along the way–and weren't so many of them just looking for acceptance, for comfort, for love?

With the heart of favorite football classics–The Blindside, Friday Night Lights, Remember the Titans–Keanon’s journey at Parkrose is the true account of a life spent striving forward, even when faced with the unimaginable. Hometown Victory is a story about gratitude, service, and most of all, hope.


Top reviews from the United States

Judy Beaverton
5.0 out of 5 stars Great, easy read
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2022
It helps to like football, but more important is the relationships that built through forming a football team in a school who had lost 24 games. They become winners and even better will win in life. The coach stopping a person who was going to be a shooter is amazing, but only a small part of the story. The story is about forming bonds that lead to winners in many ways.
Rumi Portillo
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt and Inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2022
I loved this book! This is a true life story told in a sincere and introspective way, while at the same time sharing meaningful moments and humorous challenges. Through the storytelling, I became invested in the kids at Parkrose and couldn’t help cheering them on. We need more Coach Lowe’s in this world. Highly recommend this book - I keep giving copies away and have re-ordered three times.
Niki Petroff
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story by a great person
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2022
Though he isn't an educator, Keanon's book should honestly be required reading for teachers everywhere - his dedication to and affection for his players as athletes and students jumped off the page. I read this a week ago and was incredibly moved, his story telling really stuck with me. I highly recommend this book, even for those not super well-versed in football - his story and message transcend the sport.
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring book of hard work and determination
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2022
This is an exceptional book. In these difficult times, we need to focus more on stories like those shared in this wonderful book. Integrity, hard work, kindness, generosity. I highly recommend reading this book.
Joann Gilles
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring! Uplifting!
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2022
Easy read. Story well-told. Great gift for someone needing a lift. Really made an impression. Great illustration of how our choices matter. Loved it!
J L Sweeney
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read feel good read!
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2022
A story our world needs today! We need lots more folks like Keanon if the next generation is to survive. It brought years of joy.
Robert W Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2022
As a longtime high school football coach, I found that the book effectively captured the reality of coaching high school athletes. Great story and compelling reading
OldGuy
3.0 out of 5 stars Feels Like Readers Digest Version
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2022
I liked the book. I would recommend the book, if asked. I would not promote the book.

Being a native of rural Oregon who also worked with inner city, impoverished youth in the projects in NW Portland I have great respect for Keanon.

The authors did a great job of helping me as a reader get to "know" enough about the kids to want to root for them.

This is a typical Cinderella story, except with a dramatic, once in a lifetime, terrifying episode. Without that incident, I don't believe the Parkrose football story would have as much impact.

Many opinions and conclusions were drawn about various individuals and groups without any substantial details or facts to help the reader understand the thought process.

There were several sections that repeated previous sections, almost verbatim. It felt like page fodder.

The overall impression, though, is we need more people like Keanon in positions of influence. And I'm thankful for the book.

I believe he will have more stories worth reading.

Last thought...produce an audible version read by Keanon. I would consider buying that version, as well.

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