Dailey records 900th win against Magnolia Heights
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
Most often in competitive sports slogans and phrases are thrown about in an effort to provide motivation to teams from junior high all the way up to the professional ranks. Not always do those slogans have a deep seeded meaning that those particular teams can reach around and ride throughout a season with success. There are however exceptions and Marshall head basketball coach Craig Dailey’s “We Believe” program has withstood the test of time throughout an 18 year coaching career that has produced nine state championships, numerous district titles and now, at the age of 40, 900 coaching wins.
Marshall swept Magnolia Heights tonight in Holly Springs to give Coach Dailey his 899th and 900th win. The Lady Patriots (8-5) won 40-30 while the Patriots improved to 10-1 with a 55-36 win.
A coaching career that began as an assistant to Mike Reans and Frank Miller at Delta Academy in 1992, Dailey took the girls head coaching position at New Albany High School the following year but made his way back to Marks, Mississippi to take over the entire Delta Academy basketball program the following year. It was there that Dailey’s “We Believe” program was born and every player since then has heard the story of what inspired the program. It was the death of Dailey’s mother his senior year and the lessons he learned from dealing with such a tragic loss that provided the inspiration to instill in his players to believe in something greater than themselves. In Dailey’s 12 seasons at the helm Delta won 9 state championships and were Overall runners up three times.
That belief was epitomized by a special player in Dailey’s first season at Marshall Academy in 2005. Graham Carson passed away in a car accident at the age of 18. “She had a zeal and energy that has never been touched before,” said Dailey. “She would be found at 6:00 a.m. shooting on the Gun after a bad shooting night. There have been kids with more talent, but none with more heart or more of a love for the game.”
Now in his sixth season at Marshall, Coach Dailey’s teams have won 8 district championships (Girls 4 & Boys 4) and three boy’s North State titles. In the 2008-09 season Marshall’s girls came within a basket of defeating Leake for the Class AA stat
e crown.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching an individual that is a master of his craft it won’t take long to see that at a Marshall basketball game as Dailey paces the bench giving out instructions or working the officials with both skill and a glare that would rival a pit bull.
On a personal note….I first saw Coach Dailey during the state tournament at Brookhaven a few years back and my first observation was that he had to be unapproachable due to his intensity during the game. Last fall I received a hand written note from him with encouragement and support for my effort with Southern Sports & Travel. I’ve had the pleasure of talking with him several times since then and can attest that he is a special individual that any kid would love to play for. So here’s a big “Shout Out” to Coach Dailey on his 900th career win and wishing him 900 more.
Southern Sports & Travel, By Darron Thomas
Most often in competitive sports slogans and phrases are thrown about in an effort to provide motivation to teams from junior high all the way up to the professional ranks. Not always do those slogans have a deep seeded meaning that those particular teams can reach around and ride throughout a season with success. There are however exceptions and Marshall head basketball coach Craig Dailey’s “We Believe” program has withstood the test of time throughout an 18 year coaching career that has produced nine state championships, numerous district titles and now, at the age of 40, 900 coaching wins.
Marshall swept Magnolia Heights tonight in Holly Springs to give Coach Dailey his 899th and 900th win. The Lady Patriots (8-5) won 40-30 while the Patriots improved to 10-1 with a 55-36 win.
A coaching career that began as an assistant to Mike Reans and Frank Miller at Delta Academy in 1992, Dailey took the girls head coaching position at New Albany High School the following year but made his way back to Marks, Mississippi to take over the entire Delta Academy basketball program the following year. It was there that Dailey’s “We Believe” program was born and every player since then has heard the story of what inspired the program. It was the death of Dailey’s mother his senior year and the lessons he learned from dealing with such a tragic loss that provided the inspiration to instill in his players to believe in something greater than themselves. In Dailey’s 12 seasons at the helm Delta won 9 state championships and were Overall runners up three times.
That belief was epitomized by a special player in Dailey’s first season at Marshall Academy in 2005. Graham Carson passed away in a car accident at the age of 18. “She had a zeal and energy that has never been touched before,” said Dailey. “She would be found at 6:00 a.m. shooting on the Gun after a bad shooting night. There have been kids with more talent, but none with more heart or more of a love for the game.”
Now in his sixth season at Marshall, Coach Dailey’s teams have won 8 district championships (Girls 4 & Boys 4) and three boy’s North State titles. In the 2008-09 season Marshall’s girls came within a basket of defeating Leake for the Class AA stat
e crown.If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching an individual that is a master of his craft it won’t take long to see that at a Marshall basketball game as Dailey paces the bench giving out instructions or working the officials with both skill and a glare that would rival a pit bull.
On a personal note….I first saw Coach Dailey during the state tournament at Brookhaven a few years back and my first observation was that he had to be unapproachable due to his intensity during the game. Last fall I received a hand written note from him with encouragement and support for my effort with Southern Sports & Travel. I’ve had the pleasure of talking with him several times since then and can attest that he is a special individual that any kid would love to play for. So here’s a big “Shout Out” to Coach Dailey on his 900th career win and wishing him 900 more.
