695HOOPS WHERE IT'S ALWAYS ALL ABOUT THE GIRLS
Joe Dunston, the mayor of DMV basketball, found time in his busy schedule to talk to 695Hoops. We talked about a few different things including the MAGNBL, the current state of girls basketball and this new trend of "ducking the bump."
695: Tell me about your coaching career..
Coach: I started coaching 14 years ago when my oldest daughter was 5 years old. I coached in the recreation leagues first then travel leagues and then AAU National level teams. I started the Maryland Panthers AAU Basketball and merged it into the Team Sol basketball organization and coached many teams at all ages. It was a lot of fun!
695: Did you play? Tell me about your career...
Coach: Yes I did play. I grew up in Orange NJ and played high school for Delbarton Prep in Morristown NJ. I had a good career and scored a lot of points in high school. I was recruited by small schools and ended up at Tufts University but didn’t play after my sophomore year to focus on the books and I joined a fraternity.
695: Let's talk about the original MAGNBL. How did you put that league together? Talk about the teams and players that you had in that...
Coach: Wow, this was something that Coach Reese and myself put together and our goal was to have a league for girls only and have them play in nice facilities and stop clock games with good referees. Remember in those days there did not exist any girls only leagues or girls all-star games. People told us we were crazy but we believed in the girls game and it was only fair that they had the same opportunity as the boys. There was a league called the “Beltway League” but they treated the girls like second class citizens and they had a all star game for boys but not for the girls. In those days we all struggled to find nice tournaments and leagues for girls. The girls always received the short end of the stick. It was coaches like yourself, Herb Krusen, Hank Lloyd, Mike Dukes, Bobby Johnson, Billy Taylor, Betsy, Charles Brown, Saladin Reese and others that supported the girls game and did an outstanding job in making the league work. Those coaches were awesome and I miss seeing them in the gym. We had some great times and it was really the glory years of girls AAU ball. We hosted the league in Columbia so the Baltimore teams could participate and it was the first time we brought the whole DMV region together. It was time when teams wanted to play the best to get better and the crowds were large and all of the games were great. We have had over 30 Division-1 players that played in our league and we are very proud of that. Our players have gone to schools like(Virginia, Louisville, NC State ,Wake Forest, Seton Hall ,Villanova, Elon, Loyola, Rider and others) We had great teams like the Baltimore Starz, Lady Lions, Team Excel, Md Flames, U-Turn, Lady Magic, MD Panthers, Team Sol and many others. It was an unbelievable league during a time when all of the girls teams had great coaches and always wanted to play each other. It was very competitive and there was always something going on. If it wasn’t for coaches like yourself that are committed to the girls game, the league would have never worked out. Thank you and the other coaches for making the MAG league a great league for girls basketball
695: Let's talk about the original MAGNBL. How did you put that league together? Talk about the teams and players that you had in that...
Coach: The Lady Terps are a family based organization that does an outstanding job showcasing student/athletes in the college showcase circuit. The Terps understand the showcase game and do a great job getting their girls Division I offers. Every player that has played with the Terps the entire showcase season has received at least two Division I offers. I would put the Terps up against any sponsored showcase team and compare the percentage of girls getting Division I offers. The Terps focus on education as well and teach the importance of education as well as basketball. The team is led by Coach Robert Hildreth and Coach Calvin Missouri and they do a great job getting the girls in the right position to be successful. The Terps have a great following of Division I schools and have placed over 16 girls in Division I programs. I felt it was a great environment for my daughter and she has thrived as a Lady Terps. My role is General Manager and Asst. Coach and I help manage the team. It is a great environment and all of the players and families are Terps for life!
695: What do you think of the overall direction of girls basketball in the DMV?
Coach: Honestly I liked it better 8 yrs ago when teams played to get better and always played the best competition. Now it is all about winning and teams would rather play less competition and win then good competition and maybe loose. The girls game is more about “ducking the bump” then playing the bump. Not sure why but I hope that changes, The current teams that play in the MAG league are outstanding and the level of play has gotten better over the years. There seems to be a stronger interest in Travel teams than AAU and I think that is for the better. AAU is to expansive and no longer the only game in town.
695: I agree. I've seen some players and teams do some weird stuff to get out of playing the comp. We don't duck the bump in the DMV! How do you put your schedule together for your teams?
Coach: Well, there are about 25 games of playing in front of college coaches if you include all of the open periods in April and July. We then try to fit in another 25 games to stay fit and sharp. We do not play a 100 game schedule and we try to build up the girls skills and keep everyone healthy and injury free. We are very careful with our schedule so that we peak when it is time for the showcase games.
695: How do you describe your coaching style and who has influenced you the most?
I have grown into a coaching style I am now more of a teacher and very patient with the players. I believe in playing everyone and getting everyone better which will make the team better. In my younger days of coaching I was talking too much and trying to micro-manage the game. I have had the pleasure to know some great coaches like ToddBozeman, Herb Krusen, Saladin Reese, Tom Splaine, Ed Simpson and others.
695: What do you do besides coach?
Coach: Well, I stopped coaching 2 years ago and became more of a General Manager and Event Operator. I have 3 beautiful daughters and 2 are in college and I am enjoying watching my youngest daughter play and develop along with playing a lot of golf. I also love to go watch girls college basketball games and my wife and I really enjoy going to high school and college basketball games.
695: What music are you pumping in the whip these days?
Coach: Old School! I like Patty Labelle, Marvin Gaye, John Legend, Michael Jackson and Luther. I like the old school rap(Naughty by Nature, Heavy D) that has a good tempo and non violent words.
695: What's the last good concert you went to?
Coach: My wife and I went to see Patty Labelle this summer at Wolf Trap and it was great!
695: Give me some teams and players to look out for this winter...
Coach: Well, I think you have to look at the WCAC teams this year. The league is having one of its strongest years with 6 really good teams. I would say Holy Cross will have something special this year with Rhamat, Jillian, Taylor, Jaz and Pandora. I think St. John’s is loaded with terrific players like Allen, Rowser, Bailey,Ray,Frances, Oliver..wow! Good Counsel has probably the best backcourt in the area with Randolph and Spann and their center(Amanda) is outstanding!
Thanks for everything you do and have done for the girls basketball community. You are the man and I am a big fan and supporter of your teams and players. Keep it going Bro!
695: Thanks man.
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