Abrams lettered in football for four years at Livingstone before graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business education.
[1] He began his coaching career in 1964 as an assistant at York Road Junior High school in Charlotte, North Carolina.
[2] From 1969 to 1971, he was an assistant at Myers Park High School, also in Charlotte, mentoring the running backs and wide receivers under head coach Gus Purcell.
[3] He led West Charlotte to a record of 49–33–1 in eight seasons, highlighted by Southwestern 4-A Conference titles in 1976 and 1978, and a second-place finish in the state in 1978.
He left West Charlotte in 1980 to become head coach at cross-town rival Garinger High School, leading Garginer to a record of 2–8 in one season before resigning.