Keanon Lowe is an American athletics coach and former football player for the Oregon Ducks. He is known for preventing a school shooting and suicide of a student by disarming the student and then hugging them, which was caught on security footage.[1]
 Keanon Lowe (right) during a game against USC Trojans in 2012 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Home town | Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Education | Jesuit High School |
| Alma mater | University of Oregon |
| Height | 5'9 in |
| Weight | 186 lb (84 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | American football |
| Position | Wide receiver |
| University team | Oregon Ducks |
Early life and education
editLowe grew up in Portland, Oregon in the suburb of Gresham. He was the second child of Jennifer Lowe and Kevin Lowe, who would move out when Lowe was nine, later divorcing. Lowe would teach his younger brother, Trey, things like riding a bike and sports, saying that he felt responsible for Trey as he remained by Jennifer's side during Trey's birth.[2] Jennifer Lowe worked as an accountant to help pay for Lowe's tuition at Jesuit High School where he played football.[3]
Football career
editIn 2010, Lowe signed onto the Oregon Ducks as a student athlete.[4] After playing wide receiver for the team, he tried out for the Arizona Cardinals, but did not get picked. He then went to work in Philadelphia as an analyst for the Philadelphia Eagles and later as an offensive analyst for the San Francisco 49ers.[5]
Post-football career
editAfter about a year working as an assistant football coach at Jesuit High, he moved to Parkrose High School and became the head coach for both football and track and field. In January 2020, Lowe was named the head football coach at West Linn High School, taking over from Chris Miller.[6][7] He later resigned in June to join Chip Kelly at UCLA, becoming a football offensive analyst for the UCLA Bruins.[8][9] In February 2021, Lowe left UCLA to join Scott Frost at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, serving as an offense analyst for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.[10] College GameDay aired a special about Lowe on their program.[11]
2019 Parkrose High incident
editOn May 17, 2019, 18-year-old student Angel Granados Dias entered Parkrose High School wearing a black trench coat and carrying a shotgun loaded with a single shell.[12] Lowe was sent to retrieve Dias to bring him to the counselor's office and was looking for him in the morning.[13] After Dias walked into the same classroom that Lowe was in, Lowe grabbed the shotgun and gave it to a faculty member to keep it away from Dias, then embraced Dias.[14] The incident was captured on security footage and Lowe was hailed as a hero for his actions in preventing a school shooting.[15] Because of his actions, he received the Citizen Honor Award by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society on March 31, 2020.[16][17]
Movie
editOn December 10, 2020, The Walt Disney Company announced that they were making a movie about Lowe produced by Seven Bucks Productions, currently known only as The Keanon Lowe project.[18][19] As of September 2022, no release date or further information had been announced.[20]
Book
editLowe is the author of Hometown Victory: A Coach's Story of Football, Fate, and Coming Home, published by Macmillan in 2022.
References
edit- ^ Fernandez, Gabe (October 19, 2019). "Video Shows Former Oregon Receiver Keanon Lowe Disarming, Hugging Suicidal Student". Deadspin.
- ^ Rittenberg, Adam (August 2, 2019). "The story of Keanon Lowe, former Oregon receiver turned hero". ESPN.
- ^ Bishop, Greg (August 29, 2019). "'Active Shooter!' How Life Put Keanon Lowe Where He Was Supposed to Be". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Phillips, Justin. "Oregon Ducks Wide Receiver Keanon Lowe Returns Against Stanford". Autzen Zoo.
- ^ Posey, Kyle (May 20, 2019). "Golden Nuggets: Thank you, Keanon Lowe". Niners Nation.
- ^ Hansen, Nate (January 29, 2020). "Parkrose hero Keanon Lowe named new football coach at West Linn High School". KGW.
- ^ Swanson, Mike (January 29, 2020). "Parkrose hero Keanon Lowe hired as West Linn High School football coach". The Oregonian.
- ^ Canzano, John (June 26, 2020). "Canzano: Keanon Lowe resigns as West Linn High coach -- accepts job with Chip Kelly at UCLA". The Oregonian.
- ^ Sanchez, Orlando (June 25, 2020). "Keanon Lowe steps down as West Linn football coach for college job". KGW.
- ^ Young, Ashley (February 8, 2021). "Former Oregon Duck Keanon Lowe joining Scott Frost at Nebraska as Offensive Analyst". NBC Sports.
- ^ Arend, Alek (November 23, 2019). "College GameDay Airs Incredible Feature On Former Oregon WR Keanon Lowe". The Spun.
- ^ Bogage, Jacob (May 18, 2019). "Former University of Oregon football star stops armed student at Portland high school". The Washington Post.
- ^ Bailey Jr., Everton; Young, Molly; Ryan, Jim; Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (May 17, 2019). "Gunman scare at Parkrose High School ends with no injuries, student in custody, coach applauded as hero". The Oregonian.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Acevedo, Nicole (May 18, 2019). "Oregon school coach, former football star Keanon Lowe, tackles armed student, witnesses say". NBC News.
- ^ Bacon, John (October 10, 2019). "A student came to school with a shotgun. His coach disarmed him with a bear hug -- and it was caught on video". USA Today.
- ^ Hahn, Jason Duaine (April 1, 2020). "Coach Who Disarmed Student with Shotgun Then Hugged Him Earns Congressional Medal of Honor Award". People.
- ^ Andrew, Scottie (March 31, 2020). "The teacher who disarmed, then hugged, a student will receive the citizen Congressional Medal of Honor". CNN.
- ^ Ciccoteli, Jenna (December 10, 2020). "Disney Announces Original Movies Based on Giannis, Chris Paul and Keanon Lowe". Bleacher Report.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 10, 2020). "Disney+ Programming: Here's What Was Announced Or Confirmed For Streamer During Disney Investor Day". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Hanson, Nate (December 10, 2020). "Disney to make movie based on Parkrose hero Keanon Lowe". KGW.