OCTAVIO DE LA GRANA

Assistant Coach/Player Development

Octavio De La Grana enters his 18th year as a member of the HEAT organization and his eighth as Assistant Coach/Player Development after spending the previous two seasons in the role of Player Development Coach/Director of Minor League Operations. His primary responsibilities include the mentoring and development of HEAT players.

De La Grana, who spent three seasons (2013-16) as a part of the Skyforce coaching staff, began his career with the organization as an advance scout. He also served as the team’s liaison to the Skyforce when Miami assigned players to its’ G League affiliate.

Prior to joining the HEAT, De La Grana had a combined 18 years of head coaching experience at the high school level, including two stints at Florida Christian High School, where he led his team to the Class 2A State Championship in 1996, a season in which he garnered Coach of the Year honors. He also spent eight years as head basketball coach at Westminster Christian High School.

De La Grana, a Cuban-American, is a graduate of Liberty University where he earned a degree in general studies. He attended Florida Christian High School and played basketball, where in 1979 he was chosen All-County and later was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Angie, reside in Kendall with their six children, Derrick, Daniel, Chelsea, Jenny, Annie and Leah.