Haywood's Dancy named Boys Hoops Coach of the Year
Two years ago, the Haywood boys basketball team won its first-ever Class AA state championship. That team lost 10 seniors, but after missing one state tournament, Haywood coach Kendall Dancy had the Tomcats back in Murfreesboro.
Haywood reached the Class AA semifinals this season, and Dancy is the 2017 All-West Tennessee Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.
QUESTION: With high expectations heading into the season, did this team live up to those expectations?
ANSWER: With every team, there is always some ups and downs, some valleys and peaks. I would say that the team lived up to and exceeded expectations because there was so much we had to go through in dealing with injuries. The way the guys rallied after losing Dedric Boyd. There are not many schools that are fortunate to an NCAA Division I guard, and for us to lose 20 points a game and go on a run without him like we did is a testament to how hard the guys bought in.
Q: When you lost Dedric to the injury, you lost twice, but this team got better after that. Why was that?
A: The way the guys compete on a daily basis in practice. They flat get after it. It is hard to say next guy up because every guy isn't equal in terms of ability. But the system is the system, and guys know how to play in it. Tristan Jarrett stepped up big for us. We asked him to handle the ball more versus just scoring. He became a better leader for us. When we got Dedric back, we never got to being a cohesive unit because we had guys step up, and then they had to step back.
Q: When you lose a player like Boyd, who was out 11 games, was there a fear of loss of chemistry?
A: There is no way to say no to a guy that can give you 20 points a game, but it did cause a shift in chemistry. Any time you put a player like that back in, you replace a guy who maybe did more for you rebounding or more for you scrapping and getting loose balls. The toughest decision was whether to start him immediately or try to give him a game back. The time the young guys received in his absence helped us this year and will hopefully pay dividends on down the road.
Q: When you talk Haywood basketball, the expectations are always high. Going into next year, can you continue the high expectations?
A: Being from Haywood County and being a Tomcat, I know what the expectations are. I am still a relatively a young coach, as I just completed my sixth year, I am proud to say that we have built a program that is known around the state as being a quality program. Going into Year 7, I look at it differently. I have seen our sport unite the community. The crowds that we bring to Murfreesboro are one of the largest across the state, if not the largest. I am able now after having some success to look further than wins and losses. To see all races rallying around behind our kids, no matter how rich or poor. I see that as a victory. It is 'Purple Pride,' and it runs deep. I expect to go out and compete every game, every practice. That is Tomcat basketball. That is what the people expect. Wins and losses will take care of themselves, if you go out and compete.
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.