January 26, 2006 Issue                                               

©2005 The Chestnut Hill Local

New GFS basketball coach aims high

In his first season as head coach of the Germantown Friends School boys’ varsity team, Bill Dooley is enthusiastic about re-building the young squad, and promoting a basketball program that develops young men into strong team players and all-around athletes.

“There are soccer players at GFS who play other sports in their off-season; there are baseball players who play other sports; I want to build a team of basketball players who play other sports. I don’t want basketball to always be the ‘other sport’,” Dooley said.

Coach Dooley played college basketball for the University of Richmond and in 1993 Bill was appointed head coach for the University, a post he held until 1997.

Prior to coming to GFS, Bill Dooley was the head coach at Delaware Valley College, head basketball coach and director of coaching for the Irish National Team, and most recently assistant basketball coach at LaSalle University.

“Bill brings both the high level experience and the energy to the program that we were looking for. His coaching credentials speak for themselves and I couldn’t be happier to have him on board,” remarked GFS Boys’ Athletic Director Tom Myran of Chestnut Hill.

Although Bill Dooley’s coaching experience has primarily been on collegiate and professional levels, Bill Dooley chose to coach at GFS because “I was encouraged by the commitment of the players on the team, even when the team is struggling.”

Dooley realizes that this year will be a difficult one. The team has only one senior, who suffered an injury before the start of the season and is unable to play. However, Coach Dooley is optimistic about the future of GFS basketball. “This team is a young team that is working hard. All their hard work will pay off in upcoming seasons. They have a good attitude.”