Goodbye - Watauga L Pioneers & NW4A

Big Dan & All,

As the Coach of the Watauga Lady Pioneers for the last 4 years and one of the 5 coach's of the WLP in the last 7 years - I want to say a heart felt Goodbye. It has been a great experience to coach in one of the toughest conferences in North Carolina against some long time giants like Silver, Murray, and Parham. I have made good friends with them the Foxes ( who I believe do a great job) and Snead ( who is missed but last time I heard from him is doing fine). I have taken a job coaching in Wyoming and am very excited about experiencing the Rocky Mountains.

I would just like to drop a few pearls that might give some insight into why there is so much turmoil at Watauga over the past years. BigDan, I know it would be easy to shut down all these threads - and I would not blame you if you did - but I believe it gives a cathartic venue for the silent majority to stand up and tell those that would continue to be negative to go or get on board. This community which is wonderful to teach in is very difficult to coach in. For to long fans or parents what ever you wish to identify have hidden on here under pseudonyms and bashed those coaches either on boards or to there kids or to other parents. It was happening long before I got here. Parents and fans who were told how difficult it was to win at this school but did not understand the true meaning of this. I as Coach will be the first to admit that we should have done a better job this year and even my first thought at the beggining of the year was to pull all those freshman up who went 20-3 as a JV bunch. We made a concious decision to keep them down so they could develop as players. We have been working with them since they were in 4th grade - and working with other grades as well. All we have done in doing this is made them competitve again - but yet the pressure around the program now is for them to win a conference championship. Instead of letting them struggle on the Varsity for a year I wanted to stick by some of those upperclassman who had invested so much into this program during those last years and give them the chance to prove themselves before graduating. It did not work out and I take full blame for that - The reason I stepped down was two-fold 1) I believe firmly that these kids coming up will be succesful because of what we did as a coaching staff and that in order for them to do so they needed a fresh start. Although sad for Egg and Dunn, I believe strongly that Klay will do a tremendous job and will fall in love with coaching girls. (It is time for the just as often changing administration, parents who sign petitions to stay out of the mix and stay away from the politics of what has made this county so difficult to coach in - and why no one applies to coach here). 2) Politics (this is all I will say but most people know what I am talking about).

Klay is inheriting a great bunch of Girls who are going to be fun to Coach and whom we as a staff were waiting earnestly to get to - we needed a more succesful year to make that happen - and all though we had great parents who supported us those that didnt bent the ears of those that made decisions with great prejiduce. I wish the Lady Pioneers all the best luck in the world and would tell them earnestly to stick by their new coach and do what he asks - when you dont get what you want work harder and go to the coach. Parents back Klay - he is probably one of the best practice coaches I have ever known - he will get them ready for NW4A. Klay best of luck and do what you think is right and stick with it

To all the true WHS girls hoops fans thanks for the support you have given to me and this program over the years and I will be watching with great anticipation from across the nation and with a firm belief that you can have a great year 07-08 Good Luck Klay, Girls, parents , and true fans that support what could be a fun ride for a couple of years.

Coach Dixon

Big Dan - be patient and let them vent until they get it out.

 

Amen, AMEN, AMEN!!!

TD, we will miss you greatly and I will be following your progress in Wyoming.
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good luck todd you have alot of class and i know you will do a great job with your new school.

 

Coach Dixon,As you may have read some of my posts this past year I have said all along that I was impressed with you as a coach and the job you were doing at Watauga. I try to attend all the games I can during the season and I love to observe the opposing coaches. What I observed about you was that no matter what the score was when you were playing McDowell you never gave up. I watched as you would give your players words of encourgement when they were not playing well. And most of all I watched as you walked to the locker room after the game shaking hands with all the opposing players and coaches no matter what the finale score was. As a former youth league coach I know some things are more important than a won-loss record. The most important thing about coaching is knowing you done the best of your ability to make better players and better people out of those that looked up to you for your leadership. And for that I believe you were a success at Watauga no matter what the won-loss record may show. Good luck in your future and God Bless. Tonync55 a #1 Mcdowell fan

 

TD your loved in Watauga... always have been and always will... you've coached me since i was about 11 or 12. You taught me how to win... how to lose.... and how to love the game and respect it. You coached me through baseball and basketball and made me most of what i am today. You taught me how to pitch and come prepared for every game. Have a good one TD... keep in touch.

Your Player,
WD

 

TD aka 3

Best of luck to you and the men's varsity basketball team at SVHS. Good things happen to good people. What an oppurtunity you have! I admire your courage to make such a drastic move.

Thank you for the things you did for my children - in the classroom, on the basketball court and on the baseball field. My children look up to you and have always enjoyed being with you. Thanks for bailing out Watauga a few years ago when they found themselves between a rock and a hard place. How soon some forget! Thanks for being a class act in the face of all this mess.

Thanks for all the work you have done promoting youth sports in Watauga County. Some folks talk the talk, you walked the walk. Our community is a better place. You are leaving a big void in our school and our community that will be very hard to fill. The folks in SVHS have no idea the great person and coach that is coming to their community, but they will soon.

A kind, caring, compassionate person you are. Out loss is SVHS's gain. They are lucky.

Thanks for being a friend. I have enjoyed our conversations over the years and always enjoyed being of assistance when I could.

I hope you won't be too much of a stranger (even though it is a long distance). Improve the SVHS BB web site so we can keep track of your year.

Hate to see you leave. Best wishes and good luck.

Pioneer Fan

 

TD, you have made such an impression on me, and tought me so much, as a student, and as a person. I hope you have a great experience in Wyoming and know that we will all miss you here. Enjoy the Rockies and don't let the bears get you
God Bless
-G