Dumas resigns as Dobson girls hoops coach, 2 titles and 228 wins

March 25, 2015 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Dobson girls basketball coach Tyler Dumas similarly called it a career like Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway nearly two decades ago -- on the heels of a championship. Unlike Elway, he took a few weeks rather than a few minutes to formally call an end to his (coaching) career.

Dumas officially resigned as Lady Mustangs coach on Wednesday. He is set to venture into administration beginning next school year after 20-plus years coaching in Kansas and at Dobson. The news wasn't unexpected to Dumas' seniors -- 10 of  12 players on his varsity roster. Dumas informed the seniors privately of his intentions before the season ended. He didn't want that to be a distraction in postseason.

Dobson won its second big-school girls basketball title March 2 with a 59-52 victory over Millennium. In his 10-year run as coach at Dobson, Dobson posted a 228-86 record (.722 winning percentage) and the Lady Mustangs qualified for state every year. Overall, Dumas coached basketball at Dobson or feeder junior high, Hendrix, for 20 years. He began as a varsity assistant with boys coach Rick McConnell from 1995-1998 and then became head freshman coach at Hendrix Junior High (1998-2005). He took over as girls varsity head coach for the 2005-2006 season.

Dumas never endured a losing record in his 10 seasons, yet Dobson took time to register success at state. Dumas'  teams were one-and-done 2006-2009. The tide turned in 2010 with the first title and a 4-0 run that ended with an overtime win over St. Mary's. That prevented the Lady Knights from running off four successive titles. Dobson advanced to the semis or better at state four of the past six years.

Dumas penned a lengthy letter Wednesday thanking the Dobson community and all who shared in the his growth, success and that of the girls basketball program. Another classy move, from a classy person and coach.