By 2006, De La Grana had a combined 21 years of head coaching experience at the high school level, including two stints at Florida Christian School, where he led his team to the FHSAA Class 2A State Championship in 1996,[2] 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.
During his tenure at Florida Christian, De La Grana also spent time as the school's Athletic Director (1990–95) and faculty Department Chair for Physical Education.
[4] De La Grana began working with the Miami Heat prior to the 2006–07 season.
[7] De la Grana was born in Havana, Cuba in 1961 and was only 6 years old when he came to the United States.