North Greenville University

Al DeGraffenried comes to Tigerville by way of Western Carolina University where he spent the last two seasons with the Catamounts football program. The son of a football coach, DeGraffenreid worked with the Catamounts as a student assistant before his graduation in 2017, then taking a role as the program's offensive quality control manager. He moved to an on-field role in 2019 after taking a spot with WCU as the team's assistant running backs coach. DeGraffenreid was also partly responsible for breaking down film and the offensive film study each week. His father, the late Al "Mutt" DeGraffenreid was also a coach with WCU and a Catamounts Hall-of-Famer. 

As an undergrad, DeGraffenreid bolstered his resume by working with the Western Carolina men's basketball team as a student manager. He also helped promote the WCU football program as the team's social media manager. DeGraffenreid put together a solid high school career, playing on both offense and defense as a wide receiver and defensive back. He was an All-Conference selection for Smoky Mountain High School, eventually earning a scholarship to Fayetteville State University. He later transferred back to his native Cullowhee, graduating with a degree in Sociology from WCU.