Football is not the only sport that will have a new coach running operations at Dickson High School this coming school year, girls basketball also has that honor as Ron Dwyer takes the reins.
Dwyer comes to Dickson from Guthrie, where he had been an assistant. He replaces Debby Custar, who will remain on the staff as an assistant.
The new Lady Comets’ coach has been to one varsity camp with his team and has taken the junior high squad to a camp.
“We’re already after it,” he said.
“I like the girls. They work extremely hard. They’re willing to do just about anything I ask. I just think they’re going to be a real good group of girls. They are very coachable, and I think they have some talent too.”
Although Dickson struggled through a 2-win campaign in 2007-08, Dwyer believes the experience from eight returning seniors, including three starters, will be a plus.
The Lady Comets are looking to fill the guard spots that were vacated by graduation.
Dwyer will be bringing in his daughter, Tory Dwyer, who was a starter last year at Guthrie. She is 5-11 and is more of a guard. He is looking at her, along with Dara Gray, Courtney Dodson, Cierra Burton and Julianne Jantz as his top candidates to fill the starting lineup.
“Those are the ones I’m looking too right now,” he said. “But it is summer and I have more players to look at.”
Dickson not only endured hard times last year, it did so after the 2006-07 squad went 23-5 and came within one game of making the state tournament. However, there is an explanation to that and reason to believe the team will return to competitive form.
“I’ve had a chance to visit with coach Custar about that,” Dwyer said. “We feel like a lot of these upperclassmen, senior girls, just didn’t fill a lot of time, when they had that outstanding senior group (referring to the 2006-07 group) in front of them. They are good basketball players in their own right, but last year, it was very much a learning experience for them. Getting playing time on the court was very beneficial, and I think they would be kind of a natural progression at playing better this year.”
The Dickson girls are working on their man defense and are looking to push the ball in their summer workouts, Dwyer said.
“We had a little trouble scoring last year and we’re hoping we can get the ball up the floor in a little better shape, where we’ll get some easier open looks before defenses get set,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to the job,” Dwyer said. “Everyone I’ve met in Dickson has been very gracious and kind and we don’t want to let them down. We want to do the best job we possibly can. This is a real good group of girls. They’re the type of girls that work really hard and I think they’ll have some success next year.”
Quick Hit
n Ringling will also have a new coach in girls basketball next winter. Robin Dillon was recently hired to take over the coaching duties. She replaces, Becky Lyle, who stepped down to focus more on teaching. Lyle had coached the Lady Blue Devils since 1999.
