THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 8, 1995 TAG: 9503070075
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 164 lines
GREG DUNN'S POSITION as head coach of the Kempsville girls basketball team could easily be lost on opposing coaches.
When his Chiefs meet James River Saturday in the Group AAA state quarterfinals, Rapids coach Sara Susbury will probably think either assistant coaches Steve Douglas or Beth Dunton is in charge.
Of the three, Douglas and Dunton are the two who most often shout instructions, clap their hands, stomp their feet and talk to the players.
Dunn is arguably the least animated coach around.
During a game - no matter how tightly contested - Dunn shows little or no emotion. He moves little and says less. He doesn't work officials and rarely instructs players on the court during a game.
Part of the reason, he says, is that his team is a well-oiled, smooth-running engine.
With the Chiefs entering their first state tournament with a 28-0 record, Dunn could probably coach from the stands.
At this point, his players know what to do, when to do it and why.
``This group knows how to play the game, what we expect from them,'' said Dunn, a 39-year-old graduate of First Colonial High. ``They are the most focused, dedicated group of kids I've ever coached.
``They are like that in practice and, when it comes time for the games, they know what they're doing. I don't mess with strategy in the games and I do my praising and criticizing during practice.''
While he admits that he could show more enthusiasm on the sidelines, there is no arguing with success.
The Chiefs have advanced to the region semifinals each of his two previous years at Kempsville. And in his lone season as head coach at Cox in 1988-89, the Falcons won the district title and went to regionals.
But this year, with an influx of young talent and AAU experience throughout the starting lineup, Dunn has a team that has raised even his expectations.
Still, he remains remarkably calm.
``Sometimes, I'm studying my players and the other players so hard during a game that I don't even know what the score is,'' he said. ``I want to know if my players are tired, or if they're doing what they're supposed to be doing.
``As long as they are working as hard as they can and they're doing what they are supposed to, there isn't much for me to do.''
Lately, however, Dunn has noticed his team's greater need for him to get fired up and he has - as much so as he is capable.
``They have needed me to be like that more lately, especially against Hampton (in the Eastern Region final),'' he said. ``The girls understand how I am now, and against Hampton we wanted to pick up the pace a little more, and we just couldn't seem to.''
After a little run that put his team up by 14, Dunn clapped his hands with vigor and even let out a ``yeah'' with enough volume that even people in the stands could hear him.
Dunn is well-suited for sitting on the bench.
In high school, he sat there for the Patriots one season and then got out of basketball quickly.
``I had knee problems, and I realized I just wasn't good enough to play at that level,'' Dunn said with a laugh. ``But I guess I have good experience sitting on the bench.''
That also includes his time as a coach before coming to Kempsville.
Dunn, who graduated from Old Dominion University with an English major, taught at Virginia Beach Junior High and coached for two years. He served as an assistant at Cox High under Stuart Holland for several years before taking over as head coach in 1988. He guided the Falcons to the district championship that year but left the following season.
In three years at Kempsville, the Chiefs had been in the playoffs every season but suffered in the seedings by facing either Phoebus or Menchville - the teams that combined to win the region title his first two years.
Dunn also has been involved with the Boo Williams AAU program, as have his two assistants.
``Steve and Beth are very important parts of the team here,'' Dunn said. ``They've been with me for a very long time, and they do a lot of the teaching at practice. They know what we want to do and they're very good at getting it across to the kids. They afford me more time to work on planning and stuff like that.''
Dunn decided long ago that leading young ladies through hoopdom was his calling.
``I've got some experience coaching the guys,'' he said. ``The girls are more eager to learn, and they're more open to suggestions. They want to learn how to play and how to win, whereas the guys just want you to give them the ball and let them go.''
At Kempsville, Dunn has found a group that typifies what he says girls basketball players are all about.
And at Kempsville, Dunn has quietly taught them well. MEMO: [For a related story, see page 9 of The Beacon for this date.]
ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
DREAM TEAM
Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Whitney Richardson, a 6-foot senior center, vies for position with
Hampton's Catrina Fennell in Friday's region championship.
Kneeling head coach Greg Dunn and assistant Steve Douglas cheer on
the 46-33 region final victory over Hampton.
Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
A congratulatory banner said it all for the Chiefs, who were rarely
tested, heading into the state tournament.
Says Kempsville coach Greg Dunn: ``I've got some experience coaching
the guys. The girls are more eager to learn, and they're more open
to suggestions. They want to learn how to play and how to win,
whereas the guys just want you to give them the ball and let them
go.''
QUOTABLE CHIEFS
``I'm just very happy. I've gone to region three years with this
team and it's great to finally go to state my senior year. It's kind
of been a goal of ours to get to state, and I thought this was the
team to do it because we're more focused than ever.''
- Carrie Johnson, starter averages 15.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.2
blocks
``This feels really good. I think we can win the state championship,
I mean, I hope so. This is a very focused team and we're working
very hard.''
- Erin Duckett, starter averages 7.2 points and 2.8 steals
``I feel like we deserve this. We've all worked hard for it. We've
had a few tough games lately, but I think we're better for it. We're
moving up the level of our play now.''
- Charlette Fayton, starter averages 11.2 points and 4.5 steals
``I think it has helped us to have a couple of closer games, because
we were beating people by such sizable margins. But we never took it
for granted. We've always worked hard every game and I think we'll
keep doing that.''
- Toni Patillo, starter averages 7.9 points and 8.1 rebounds
``I've been talking to (Misty Colebank and Kelly Bradley of last
year's state champs from Salem) and they were telling me about how
much fun it was. We've proven we can handle just about anything.
That'll help us from here on.''
- Kristin Cholewa, starter averages 8.1 points, 5.8 rebounds
``I'm really nervous. I can't sleep at night. This is just awesome.
. . . We don't know anything about the other teams, but it doesn't
matter. We're going to go out and do the same things we have all
season. It's been working.''
- Lori Henn, substitute averages 6 points and has 33 3-pointers
``I'm proud to be a senior on a team that is finally going to state.
We've been close to going the last few years. I think we'd really
like to go up there and win; you know, the Beach is where (the state
trophy) should stay.''
- Whitney Richardson, substitute averages 4.2 points and 5.1
rebounds
``This is awesome. . . . We were doing really good at the beginning
of the season, winning by so many points, and then we had some tough
times. But all that is beneficial, because there are going to be
some tough games from here on out..''
- Carrie Heath, substitute averages 6.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0
assists
by CNB