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Hometown Victory: A Coach's Story of Football, Fate, and Coming Home
The Blindside meets Friday Night Lights in Keanon Lowe's Hometown Victory when an NFL coach returns home after losing a friend 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.
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.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published May 10, 2022
24 people are currently reading
301 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 8, 2022
I really enjoyed this story from a coach’s perspective! He’s had a unique life going from college football to NFL coaching staff. Yet when a close friend dies it brings him home and he ends up coaching at a rundown high school. There are incredible odds to overcome and he has to start from scratch teaching these players what it means to work hard, be consistent, and never give up!
As a coach myself, I’ve thought many of the same things he shared. You have to just make the best of your situation.
Although thankfully I’ve never dealt with a player punching a coach!😆😅
There is some language and I probably wouldn’t agree with all his political views, yet I highly respect him for his work ethic, going above and beyond his coaching duties, and never giving up even when there was frustration overload and things seemed to be failing all around him! His story is truly inspiring and he has impacted so many lives!❤️
📖 “Time is something you can never get back.”
📖 “The more you put into some thing, the more you get out of it. The harder you work, the more your hard work will be rewarded. You don’t get good at something by accident. The more respect you show to your craft, the more your craft will respect you.”
📖 “We need to eliminate the excuses. Once you stop making excuses, you will be surprised at what you can accomplish.”
📖 “As a player on a team, it’s your duty to dedicate yourself to do anything to help your team win, whether you are a starter or you are last on the bench.”
📖 “Move fast, work hard, finish strong.”
📖 “Pressure is what you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing; but I don’t feel pressure because I know what I’m doing.”
📖 “Win the day. The hard part is the process, the daily things you have to do to achieve those goals. If you take care of a single day at a time, without looking forward or back, you’ll find yourself progressing as time goes on if you’re willing to put in the work. Focusing on the process, one day at a time, is life-changing.”
📖 “Love -not hate- can conquer all.”
As a coach myself, I’ve thought many of the same things he shared. You have to just make the best of your situation.
Although thankfully I’ve never dealt with a player punching a coach!😆😅
There is some language and I probably wouldn’t agree with all his political views, yet I highly respect him for his work ethic, going above and beyond his coaching duties, and never giving up even when there was frustration overload and things seemed to be failing all around him! His story is truly inspiring and he has impacted so many lives!❤️
📖 “Time is something you can never get back.”
📖 “The more you put into some thing, the more you get out of it. The harder you work, the more your hard work will be rewarded. You don’t get good at something by accident. The more respect you show to your craft, the more your craft will respect you.”
📖 “We need to eliminate the excuses. Once you stop making excuses, you will be surprised at what you can accomplish.”
📖 “As a player on a team, it’s your duty to dedicate yourself to do anything to help your team win, whether you are a starter or you are last on the bench.”
📖 “Move fast, work hard, finish strong.”
📖 “Pressure is what you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing; but I don’t feel pressure because I know what I’m doing.”
📖 “Win the day. The hard part is the process, the daily things you have to do to achieve those goals. If you take care of a single day at a time, without looking forward or back, you’ll find yourself progressing as time goes on if you’re willing to put in the work. Focusing on the process, one day at a time, is life-changing.”
📖 “Love -not hate- can conquer all.”
May 11, 2022
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this audiobook, but as a fan of the blindside and other motivational stories, I thought I’d give this a chance. I’m glad I did. While a lot of it is football stories and plays, which I didn’t totally understand 😂, most of it was relating the discipline and work of the field into use off the field.
Keonon Lowe was a gifted college athlete who found himself coaching at Parkrose high school after trying out assistant coaching in the NFL. Parkrose had a losing reputation so when he takes over, he has more than just football to teach these boys. He needs to teach them confidence and how to connect to each other as a team. Lowe finds a way to inspire them with his no nonsense ways that strike a balance between compassion and toughness that the boys all need since they come from rough upbringings and need to learn that the sum is greater than its parts.
Equal parts Educational, inspirational and motivational, this will speak to anyone who needs a boost and to feel like they’re capable of more than they think they are.
Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.
Keonon Lowe was a gifted college athlete who found himself coaching at Parkrose high school after trying out assistant coaching in the NFL. Parkrose had a losing reputation so when he takes over, he has more than just football to teach these boys. He needs to teach them confidence and how to connect to each other as a team. Lowe finds a way to inspire them with his no nonsense ways that strike a balance between compassion and toughness that the boys all need since they come from rough upbringings and need to learn that the sum is greater than its parts.
Equal parts Educational, inspirational and motivational, this will speak to anyone who needs a boost and to feel like they’re capable of more than they think they are.
Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.
April 7, 2022
HOMETOWN VICTORY, by Keanon Lowe & Justin Spizman, is the memoir of Keanon Lowe, a gifted college athlete who fell into coaching after graduation. He quickly found himself an assistant in the NFL, but found his calling in his mid-20's to become head coach at Parkrose High School. Parkrose had lost twenty-three straight games when Lowe takes over and Lowe had to find a way to cultivate hope in a group of young men that are accustomed to losing on the field and in life. As Lowe finds his way as a coach and connects to his players in ways no adult ever has, the Parkrose team begins to shed their past and find that by loving and caring for each other, their team can become greater than all of it's parts. Lowe finds a beautiful balance between compassion and toughness that few coaches find.
From beginning to end, I found myself completely entranced by this book. The reader is taken on the journey of head coaching discovery that Lowe is going through as a first timer. Emotional highs and lows are felt all along the way and those challenges are a lot of fun to read about. The writers intertwine some thoughts on how to live and how to find happiness. By the end of the book, I audibly cheered every challenge met and win captured by the Parkrose football team. Lowe's presence at Parkrose also had another wonderful result described in the book and is the reason why the reader might know his name before reading this book, but I will leave that part for the reader to find.
HOMETOWN VICTORY is written with a soothing rhythm and recreates events with clarity and exacting specificity, but without extra words and unnecessary supplementation that would only bog down the book. A pleasure to read, this book left a smile on face long after I finished reading it.
Thank you to Flatiron Books, Keanon Lowe & Justin Spizman, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
From beginning to end, I found myself completely entranced by this book. The reader is taken on the journey of head coaching discovery that Lowe is going through as a first timer. Emotional highs and lows are felt all along the way and those challenges are a lot of fun to read about. The writers intertwine some thoughts on how to live and how to find happiness. By the end of the book, I audibly cheered every challenge met and win captured by the Parkrose football team. Lowe's presence at Parkrose also had another wonderful result described in the book and is the reason why the reader might know his name before reading this book, but I will leave that part for the reader to find.
HOMETOWN VICTORY is written with a soothing rhythm and recreates events with clarity and exacting specificity, but without extra words and unnecessary supplementation that would only bog down the book. A pleasure to read, this book left a smile on face long after I finished reading it.
Thank you to Flatiron Books, Keanon Lowe & Justin Spizman, and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 17, 2022
This was an inspiring story that I was not familiar with. I appreciated the author's dedication to helping the young men on his football team. I was very impressed with his choice to leave the NFL and come home to a needy school.
SPOILER ALERT: I was not familiar with the potential school shooting that he responded to. I was impressed with the humility he used to describe his actions. I was sad to read that he left the high school program after only 2 seasons. Perhaps that was another casualty of COVID.
The book was a breezy read. Not the best writing, but on par with other sports biographies/coach memoirs.
SPOILER ALERT: I was not familiar with the potential school shooting that he responded to. I was impressed with the humility he used to describe his actions. I was sad to read that he left the high school program after only 2 seasons. Perhaps that was another casualty of COVID.
The book was a breezy read. Not the best writing, but on par with other sports biographies/coach memoirs.
January 13, 2024
Very inspiring! Thanks for finding this one, Eileen! ❤️
July 24, 2023
Thanks to a specific incident at the school in this book, (Parkrose High School in Portland, Oregon) that school’s football coach who was also a security guard became a hero in the eyes of many. However, as this memoir shows, there are other ways in which a person can be a hero without stopping a potential mass shooting incident that made the author of the book, Keanon Lowe, this “hero.”
The incident is near the end of the book, but what is even better about this book is the manner in which Lowe, after taking over as head coach of a struggling football program, saw the good and the potential in each one of his players, even if they had not won a game in over three years.
Without going into too much social commentary or emotion, he does speak often about his players who have many issues outside of football that need extra attention. Most of the ways he addresses these do affect the football team but Lowe looks beyond that and writes about how his actions will help these young men in other parts of life more important than football.
While this type of story is not completely uncommon as many football coaches (and coaches in other sports) will help their young players overcome the burn of unfair life situations, what makes this a little different is that Lowe wanted to come home (he was a native of Portland) and left a career in NFL coaching to coach this football team. He was a young rising star in the coaching ranks and even had experience in dealing with issues beyond the football field as he was a San Francisco 49ers assistant coach when Colin Kaepernick made his protests against police violence. While this is not comparing that to situations such as young players defying a coach or parent, not attending school or practice due to transportation issues or losing loved ones to drugs or violence, it does show that Lowe knew how to deal with issues from a football team or player that had nothing to do with the game on the field.
Speaking of that, there is plenty of football action, both in practice and in games, in the book. Parkrose did break their losing streak and made great strides in the first two years of Lowe’s coaching career there, but that is not what make the book so good. What does make it one that I had a hard time putting down was the care and compassion Lowe showed to the young men he helped. This was especially evident in the writing he did about them, emphasizing that they needed this guidance to be prepared for life outside of football and high school as well. That is what made this book such a joy to read.
The incident is near the end of the book, but what is even better about this book is the manner in which Lowe, after taking over as head coach of a struggling football program, saw the good and the potential in each one of his players, even if they had not won a game in over three years.
Without going into too much social commentary or emotion, he does speak often about his players who have many issues outside of football that need extra attention. Most of the ways he addresses these do affect the football team but Lowe looks beyond that and writes about how his actions will help these young men in other parts of life more important than football.
While this type of story is not completely uncommon as many football coaches (and coaches in other sports) will help their young players overcome the burn of unfair life situations, what makes this a little different is that Lowe wanted to come home (he was a native of Portland) and left a career in NFL coaching to coach this football team. He was a young rising star in the coaching ranks and even had experience in dealing with issues beyond the football field as he was a San Francisco 49ers assistant coach when Colin Kaepernick made his protests against police violence. While this is not comparing that to situations such as young players defying a coach or parent, not attending school or practice due to transportation issues or losing loved ones to drugs or violence, it does show that Lowe knew how to deal with issues from a football team or player that had nothing to do with the game on the field.
Speaking of that, there is plenty of football action, both in practice and in games, in the book. Parkrose did break their losing streak and made great strides in the first two years of Lowe’s coaching career there, but that is not what make the book so good. What does make it one that I had a hard time putting down was the care and compassion Lowe showed to the young men he helped. This was especially evident in the writing he did about them, emphasizing that they needed this guidance to be prepared for life outside of football and high school as well. That is what made this book such a joy to read.
October 14, 2022
This unexpectedly deep story is of a football player, turned young coach in the NFL, turned high school football coach. He took a job after a devastating loss of a good friend to drugs that had him recalibrating his purpose. It became coaching up a struggling football team at a local school that had all the cards stacked against them and no heart to really continue.
He assembled Justice League style and integrated into the school's fabric to mentor and coach the boys, learning about himself along the way, to the point where there were a few victories even. Nothing life-changing but monumentally uplifting for Lowe who also became a small celebrity once he began working as security at the school and tackled a distraught kid with a gun, wrestling it away and realizing the kid was distraught and was attempting to turn it on himself (though clearly had other thoughts as well).
It's a small book and having the ghost writer definitely refined the flow of the narrative in ways that highlights Lowe's work and heart with the teens. It wouldn't have likely been as emotional without that next level, but it's so short too. I will definitely be recommending it. It reminds me a lot of A Most Beautiful Thing.
He assembled Justice League style and integrated into the school's fabric to mentor and coach the boys, learning about himself along the way, to the point where there were a few victories even. Nothing life-changing but monumentally uplifting for Lowe who also became a small celebrity once he began working as security at the school and tackled a distraught kid with a gun, wrestling it away and realizing the kid was distraught and was attempting to turn it on himself (though clearly had other thoughts as well).
It's a small book and having the ghost writer definitely refined the flow of the narrative in ways that highlights Lowe's work and heart with the teens. It wouldn't have likely been as emotional without that next level, but it's so short too. I will definitely be recommending it. It reminds me a lot of A Most Beautiful Thing.
January 5, 2024
Loved this story of healing from grief and finding a place of purpose to heal. Keanon Lowe is an inspiring human.
April 18, 2024
Classic underdog story. A bit cheesy. You know where this narrative is going after reading the synopsis, yet that didn't keep me from enjoying it.
May 25, 2022
Keanon Lowe was a high school phenom and successful college wide receiver at the University of Oregon (check out the University of Nike book for more background on that college) and had become an assistant coach in the NFL. However, after losing a close childhood friends at just 26, Lowe returned home to Portland as he struggled to come to terms with the loss. Ultimately he became head coach of a football team at an underfunded high school that had lost 23 consecutive games. Hometown Victory is the story of the teams two seasons with Lowe as their coach.
The book recounts Lowe’s early struggles to connect with the students, to infuse them with confidence and teach them to believe in themselves. It’s a story of empathy, compassion, and the power a role model can have. I won’t spoil what happens but safe to say, it’s unlikely a book would have been written if they lost all 9 games that season!
It’s also a particularly American story – the vast financial differences between schools, the greater challenges faced by young kids of color, the ridiculous co-existence of great poverty with great affluence, the outsize role that school sports are given culturally and the depressingly high probability of a gun making an appearance in any story about a US high school.
If the story was fiction it would feel like a cliché – the young talented coach who gives up his dream career to try and make a difference in the lives of young men of color and win some football games along the way. It even includes the inevitable reference to the players ultimately teaching the coach more about himself than he has taught them. Lowe, however, comes across as a genuinely compassionate man who has channeled his grief at losing his friend into a commendable commitment to service. He talks at length about his belief in the power of love, fate and optimism but he also demonstrates this vision through his actions. The cynic in me wanted to roll my eyes, but his enthusiasm, genuineness and passion is infectious. Lowe has done an unambiguously good thing by being a positive force in the lives of young men who had so many negative forces to gravitate towards. He has also written a great book.
Hometown Victory is a very enjoyable, inspiring book. It will leave you frustrated at a world where, in the richest country in human history, a 15 year old kid can be homeless, but optimistic about what can be achieved when passionate talented people choose to try and make a difference. I also particularly enjoy the focus on a young coach at the beginning of his career and seeing his trial and error process – usually such books tend to have experienced coaches on high calibre team.
The book blurb calls it Friday Night Lights meets the Blind Side and it’s hard to come up with a better summary than that.
The book recounts Lowe’s early struggles to connect with the students, to infuse them with confidence and teach them to believe in themselves. It’s a story of empathy, compassion, and the power a role model can have. I won’t spoil what happens but safe to say, it’s unlikely a book would have been written if they lost all 9 games that season!
It’s also a particularly American story – the vast financial differences between schools, the greater challenges faced by young kids of color, the ridiculous co-existence of great poverty with great affluence, the outsize role that school sports are given culturally and the depressingly high probability of a gun making an appearance in any story about a US high school.
If the story was fiction it would feel like a cliché – the young talented coach who gives up his dream career to try and make a difference in the lives of young men of color and win some football games along the way. It even includes the inevitable reference to the players ultimately teaching the coach more about himself than he has taught them. Lowe, however, comes across as a genuinely compassionate man who has channeled his grief at losing his friend into a commendable commitment to service. He talks at length about his belief in the power of love, fate and optimism but he also demonstrates this vision through his actions. The cynic in me wanted to roll my eyes, but his enthusiasm, genuineness and passion is infectious. Lowe has done an unambiguously good thing by being a positive force in the lives of young men who had so many negative forces to gravitate towards. He has also written a great book.
Hometown Victory is a very enjoyable, inspiring book. It will leave you frustrated at a world where, in the richest country in human history, a 15 year old kid can be homeless, but optimistic about what can be achieved when passionate talented people choose to try and make a difference. I also particularly enjoy the focus on a young coach at the beginning of his career and seeing his trial and error process – usually such books tend to have experienced coaches on high calibre team.
The book blurb calls it Friday Night Lights meets the Blind Side and it’s hard to come up with a better summary than that.
September 22, 2022
3.5 rounded down to a 3. This was a quick read. While his is an inspirational story and I’m glad he helped the young men and students at Parkrose High, the book was repetitive and really needed a good editor.
January 27, 2023
I grabbed this book as part of a challenge to read/listen to a book by an athlete.
CW as the book & my review will discuss these topics:
poverty, racism, violence, fatal drug overdose, alcoholism, attempted suicide by a youth
This memoir by Keanon Lowe mostly covers a two-year span of his career as a high school football coach for one of the most struggling teams in Oregon during the 2018 & 2019 seasons. Mixing in - sometimes at odd moments - his family life growing up and his own personal high school and college ball career. While I found it to be overly repetitive and filled with too many "cat poster" motivational phrases, I did appreciate his ability to connect with his players beyond just football. His own experiences with financial and family strife growing up helped him empathize with the often difficult backgrounds of Parkrose students.
While their story may not be quite the fairy tale the blurb makes it out to be (sorry, but this is neither Blindside nor Friday Night Lights in terms of gripping drama or Cinderella-esque game stats) - it is an enjoyable look at how a team and individual student's lives can be positively impacted by caring adults. I appreciated how Lowe shared that he was not in this alone and that many other people held his respect and admiration for all that he achieved. They all worked together to help students find motivation when their personal lives and team are constantly bombarded by poverty, lack of support, and racism.
I didn't realize when I chose this that Lowe is the school security guard who stopped a student from killing himself by embracing them in a hug. This makes up a small but powerful part of the book toward the end and exemplifies the unwavering love and dedication he has for youth - whether they are on his team or not.
Narration:
I enjoyed Landon Woodson's narration. I'd love to listen to more by him.
CW as the book & my review will discuss these topics:
poverty, racism, violence, fatal drug overdose, alcoholism, attempted suicide by a youth
This memoir by Keanon Lowe mostly covers a two-year span of his career as a high school football coach for one of the most struggling teams in Oregon during the 2018 & 2019 seasons. Mixing in - sometimes at odd moments - his family life growing up and his own personal high school and college ball career. While I found it to be overly repetitive and filled with too many "cat poster" motivational phrases, I did appreciate his ability to connect with his players beyond just football. His own experiences with financial and family strife growing up helped him empathize with the often difficult backgrounds of Parkrose students.
While their story may not be quite the fairy tale the blurb makes it out to be (sorry, but this is neither Blindside nor Friday Night Lights in terms of gripping drama or Cinderella-esque game stats) - it is an enjoyable look at how a team and individual student's lives can be positively impacted by caring adults. I appreciated how Lowe shared that he was not in this alone and that many other people held his respect and admiration for all that he achieved. They all worked together to help students find motivation when their personal lives and team are constantly bombarded by poverty, lack of support, and racism.
I didn't realize when I chose this that Lowe is the school security guard who stopped a student from killing himself by embracing them in a hug. This makes up a small but powerful part of the book toward the end and exemplifies the unwavering love and dedication he has for youth - whether they are on his team or not.
Narration:
I enjoyed Landon Woodson's narration. I'd love to listen to more by him.
November 28, 2023
Everybody loves a underdog story, from sports to competitions or even races. The stories gives motivation and courage to the watcher/readers to get better in the sport or activities. Well in this book, "Hometown Victory" it gives that message and encouragement. It gives these feelings by sharing the story of this high school's football team coming up after their 23 game losing streak. A former NFL coach for the 49ers and a former player for the Oregon Ducks team Keanon Lowe, comes back to his childhood town after he lost his best friend from drug addiction. He decides that he would like to coach his high school, Parkrose, with the help of his friend from the Oregon Football team known as, B-jax. They both train these kids with a lot of training and practice on and off the football field. The team and the coach has ups and downs with the sport, academics, and life but they all pushed through it like a big family.
This book is one of my favorite books that I finished. It gave me that feeling of what happens before the games, nervousness and anxiety. Keanon Lowe really gave great details of how his thought process of the kids progression on football and how they grew stronger throughout the summer and the season. A lot of great things about this book with the great choice of words and the structure of the story but there is one thing that I didn't like. I didn't like how they shorten the chapters, wished they gave two extra pages for each chapter but that just personally me. This book is great, I loved the story and plot of the story. This book reminds of a Netflix movie called the "Home Team" and this movie's story is a underdog story and its about a NFL coach coming to coach his sons football coach and the movie shows the kids progressing and they win more games than last season by a lot. I would definitely recommend this books to the readers that love underdog stories, love progression in sports, and a lover for football.
This book is one of my favorite books that I finished. It gave me that feeling of what happens before the games, nervousness and anxiety. Keanon Lowe really gave great details of how his thought process of the kids progression on football and how they grew stronger throughout the summer and the season. A lot of great things about this book with the great choice of words and the structure of the story but there is one thing that I didn't like. I didn't like how they shorten the chapters, wished they gave two extra pages for each chapter but that just personally me. This book is great, I loved the story and plot of the story. This book reminds of a Netflix movie called the "Home Team" and this movie's story is a underdog story and its about a NFL coach coming to coach his sons football coach and the movie shows the kids progressing and they win more games than last season by a lot. I would definitely recommend this books to the readers that love underdog stories, love progression in sports, and a lover for football.
November 8, 2023
The title of my book is Hometown Victory by Keanon Lowe. I found this book in the library and I like sports books so I thought I would give it a try. This book follows a high school football team named Parkrose. Parkrose football is on a 23-game losing streak. With a new coaching staff and mindset, they try to turn Parkrose football around.
This book is inside the mind of Keanon Lowe, who is an Oregon football star and ex-coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Fransisco 49ers. After tragic events that struck Keanon’s life, he decided to return home to Parkrose and coach with his childhood best friend. Keanon is nervous to take on the job as head coach of a team that hasn't won a game in 3 seasons. What Keanon does know is that with the right discipline and effort, Parkrose can prove everybody wrong. Keanon has faith in the players and if they put in the work they will succeed.
I think the ending of this book is a well fit. My favorite part was when Jay Jay got the ball, acted like he was going to run, and threw a bomb for the game-winning touchdown in the State Championship. Parkrose was going against the best team in the state, Wilsonville, and they ended up winning. The plot and characters are great in this book and I think any football fan would love it.
My personal opinion on this book is great. I love underdog and football stories so this was a perfect fit. I love the way this book is told and how the plot goes. This book isn’t an unrealistic cray comeback story either, this can happen. Coach Lowe is a great coach and leader, and he can turn any team around.
This book is inside the mind of Keanon Lowe, who is an Oregon football star and ex-coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Fransisco 49ers. After tragic events that struck Keanon’s life, he decided to return home to Parkrose and coach with his childhood best friend. Keanon is nervous to take on the job as head coach of a team that hasn't won a game in 3 seasons. What Keanon does know is that with the right discipline and effort, Parkrose can prove everybody wrong. Keanon has faith in the players and if they put in the work they will succeed.
I think the ending of this book is a well fit. My favorite part was when Jay Jay got the ball, acted like he was going to run, and threw a bomb for the game-winning touchdown in the State Championship. Parkrose was going against the best team in the state, Wilsonville, and they ended up winning. The plot and characters are great in this book and I think any football fan would love it.
My personal opinion on this book is great. I love underdog and football stories so this was a perfect fit. I love the way this book is told and how the plot goes. This book isn’t an unrealistic cray comeback story either, this can happen. Coach Lowe is a great coach and leader, and he can turn any team around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2023
I really liked this book because it's about a man named Keanon Lowe who played D1 College football with the Oregon Ducks and had a great season with them. although he did not get to play in the NFL he is able to coach in the league for a few teams. Through the years he finds an opportunity to coach a high school football team in his hometown in Portland, Oregon. The High school is a school that is too laid back and the students do whatever they want there. Keanon has trouble coaching because nobody has his back and they all doubt him because he is coaching the worst team in high school football because they have never won a game. But everyday he works with them and he makes them work harder and harder, and for the first time they make it to state. But he and the team have a great bond and their only focus is trying to win state. I think people that play sports and that love reading action books will really love this book like i did. One thing i really liked about the book was how motivating and uplifting it was. the thing i didn't like was the way everybody in the town doubted the new coach and thought it was a waste to still have a football team. This book deserves a 5 star rating.
June 29, 2022
Landon Woodson narrated the book and he did an excellent job!
I liked this book. It’s inspirational. Keenan Lowe is one of this world’s good guys.
He took a football team and coached them with skill and grace to a winning season. I enjoyed the play by play of the football games.
What is amazing about Keenan is his willingness to take on part time jobs such as cleaning places prior to events also working as a security guard.
One thing I would like to know is if Portrose High School football team is still winning some games.
I liked this book. It’s inspirational. Keenan Lowe is one of this world’s good guys.
He took a football team and coached them with skill and grace to a winning season. I enjoyed the play by play of the football games.
What is amazing about Keenan is his willingness to take on part time jobs such as cleaning places prior to events also working as a security guard.
One thing I would like to know is if Portrose High School football team is still winning some games.
October 2, 2022
Sometimes I want to read about flawed people who must overcome external and internal obstacles to accomplish great things. And sometimes I just want to read about really good guys/gals, true heroes who must overcome external obstacles to accomplish great things. The value of the former books is that they help us to feel less alone, and the value of the latter is that they give us something to which we can aspire. Hometown Victory is kind of the football version of Coach Carter, a story about a real-life hero that encourages us to feel hope and be better.
November 17, 2022
A heartfelt sharing of a young black football coach who, after a personal loss, returns to his hometown and takes a job coaching at a poor mostly minority high school that has had no success for its football team (they’ve lost 23 games in a row) for years. Through his devotion and love for his players, Keaton Lowe builds a sense of family and finds success as a mentor, role model and coach over two years.
A strong story about growth and devotion on the part of both players and growth.
Disney+ is possibly making a movie of the story.
A strong story about growth and devotion on the part of both players and growth.
Disney+ is possibly making a movie of the story.
July 10, 2023
What a great sports story/memoir! When I started listening to the book, I had no idea it was a local story too! Lowe shares his experiences growing up in the Portland area and how his love of football led his family to make changes to help him succeed. The story also focuses on Lowe's time coaching the Parkrose High School football team, which had previously been on a 20+ game losing streak. Through hard work and a demonstration of care for his players, Lowe is able to help transform the team and instill hope.
October 17, 2025
I rate "Hometown Victory" By: Keanon Lowe a 5/5. I say it is a 5/5 mainly because the story line. It was just overall very engaging a ND it kept me interested throughout. The pacing was great and when you thought you knew what was going to happen next, you didn't because something would always happen to interfere with it. I also appreciate the book because it is a true story and has real meaning. The book was just amazing overall. If you enjoy sports books or true stories I would one hundred percent recommend this.
July 19, 2023
A good story about a young coach who loved kids and proved it by placing it into action as a football and track mentor and serving as a school security officer. There is a great amount of football which will bore many, but stick with the read and observe how Coach changed the culture of a troubled school as he lived his dream, giving kids a chance.
The last few pages of the book give a very touching account of an event that will stick in your memory. You must read it to be informed.
The last few pages of the book give a very touching account of an event that will stick in your memory. You must read it to be informed.
November 29, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Seriously… all the feels with this one. 🥹 🥲 😭 🤩
If you haven’t read this book or heard this story, check out this clip from ESPN College Gameday.
https://youtu.be/1IXNd4jPiVM
This book is highly recommended for educators, coaches, leaders, football players, or just anyone who is looking for an inspirational story to remind them that there is good out there and that “good” could be you.
If you haven’t read this book or heard this story, check out this clip from ESPN College Gameday.
https://youtu.be/1IXNd4jPiVM
This book is highly recommended for educators, coaches, leaders, football players, or just anyone who is looking for an inspirational story to remind them that there is good out there and that “good” could be you.
October 7, 2022
Loved this book. The reason I loved it so much was that it was about a coach and a local high school I'm familiar with. It also could've been that I am an Oregon Ducks fan and remember Keanon Lowe on those teams battling for a National Championship. I also have a personal connection with his assistant coach Brian Jackson as he is a former OTF coach and I took his classes. The book gave me chills.
October 22, 2022
Good memoir about Keanon Lowe's. He definitely choose a more challenging path in life but has really made a difference in kids lives (and hopefully continues to do so). A good book about overcoming adversity in all phases of life and career, and the power of teams and the support that they can provide for kids.
December 16, 2022
What I like about the book is that the author puts names of real people in the NFL and talks about his former teammates, and also how he shares everything that happened on May 17 2019. The book also talks about how a team that was bad became good for 2 years and the coach ended up getting a job from multiple NFL teams.
June 6, 2023
Great story of how sports, in this case football, can help change lives. Lowe shares his own story of how football helped him as a young man, then about his two years as a high school coach at Parkrose High School, a team on a 23 game losing streak when he took over the team. Throw in his actions when a student brought a shotgun to school and it makes for an excellent story.
June 7, 2022
Wow -a great (and relatively short) nonfiction book about coaching high school football front the perspective of a college athlete turned pro coach who went back to his hometown. Definitely recommending this to my football players and coaches and others who love an underdog story!
August 8, 2022
An interesting look at high school football and life. Lowe tells a great story of coming together as a team and in believing in yourself for a group of boys who were not in the best of circumstances. Also he tells of his personal growth.
August 17, 2022
This book was inspiring. The journey of a football coach building a team and a school to believe in themselves was a good read. It got a little lost at the end, but the overall message was worth the read.
September 1, 2022
Sports + life has always been a strong recipe for storytelling, this is no different. I believe Keanon Lowe does justice to small stories making oversized impact. Good, short read with strong emotions.
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