 |
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
|
Tough, Intense, and Passionate. Three words which best exemplify the characteristics of one of the top head coaches in the Mid-American Conference. Dan Dakich has the highest conference winning percentage (58.3) among active MAC coaches (3 years or more in the league), has guided the Falcons an average of 18.4 wins per season over the last five years and has posted a 56-34 MAC record, the second best among the 13 league members in that span. He also became the second fastest men’s basketball coach at BGSU to reach the 100 victory mark when the Falcons defeated Miami, 51-48 on March 1, 2003. Overall at BGSU, he is 102-73 and is second in BGSU men’s basketball history in winning percentage (58.3) and fifth in victories. In addition, he has seen 11 of 14 seniors complete their degree requirements and had eight players sign professional contracts. The 2002-03 season may have been the most rewarding as a coach for Dakich, despite the team’s 13-16 final record. With an injury-depleted roster that concluded the season with six scholarship recruits, two football players and a walk-on, the Falcons advanced to the MAC Tournament in Cleveland for the fourth straight year. In addition, BGSU posted wins over three of the top four regular season finishers, and captured first-time road wins at Kent State and at Ball State. BGSU also took the nation’s top-ranked team at the time, Alabama, down to the wire and compiled a six-game winning streak midway during the season. In 2001-02, BGSU finished 24-9, the most wins for the Falcons since the 1948-49 season, and earned its second NIT berth in three seasons. The Falcons, who beat NCAA Tournament teams UNC Wilmington and Ole Miss, advanced to the MAC Tournament championship game for the first time since 1983. In addition, BGSU ran off a 12-game winning streak, the fourth longest in school history. He also saw Keith McLeod earn MAC Player of the Year honors and earn AP All-American accolades. Prior to Dakich’s arrival on campus, BG had not posted 40 wins in a two-year span (1961-63) since Hall of Famer Nate Thurmond was lacing it up for the Falcons. That was accomplished by Dakich’s 1999 and 2000 teams. In 1999-2000, the Falcons won the regular season title in the MAC with a 14-4 record, the school’s eighth league crown and first outright since 1982-83. In addition, his club won the Nextel Challenge in Hawaii, finished among national leaders in field goal percentage, won 10 road games, and produced the MAC’s Player of the Year in Anthony Stacey. They also earned an NIT berth. In 1998-99, with a full year in Dakich’s system, the team enjoyed an 18-win season, an eight-game improvement over his first year. BGSU finished third in the East Division during his first year with the Falcons. Dakich moved right from being a player for the Hoosiers to the coaching side of the game. After completing his playing career in 1984-85, he became a member of Coach Bob Knight’s staff the following season, spending his first two years as a graduate assistant coach. He became Knight’s top assistant coach in 1990. He is the only basketball player for Knight who has moved directly to an assistant coaching position without leaving the program. As a player, Dakich served as team captain both his junior (1983-84) and senior (1984-85) seasons. He is best remembered for his excellent defensive effort against Michael Jordan in Indiana’s upset of North Carolina in the 1984 NCAA East Regional. During his four years as a player, he helped Indiana win one Big Ten title, earn three NCAA Tournament berths, and finish as the NIT runner-up his senior season. Indiana compiled an 84-39 record during Dakich’s four years as a player. He had his best season as a senior averaging 5.2 points. Following his playing days, Dakich remained with the Hoosiers and spent the next 12 years as a coach with one of the premier college basketball programs in the country. The Hoosiers won a national title (1986-87); earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament in each of the 12 seasons; captured four Big Ten titles while finishing third or better in nine of the 12 years; coached six All-Americans and three national Player of the Year candidates, including 1993 Player of the Year Calbert Cheaney; worked with three Big Ten MVPs; and academically, graduated every four-year player to go through the program (Dakich was the academic monitor on the IU basketball staff his last seven years). Dakich coached 10 players at Indiana who either play or have played in the NBA. Dakich helped the Indiana program win 73.7% (283-101) of its games over the 12 years he served as an assistant coach while the Hoosiers were winning just over 70% of its Big Ten contests over the same period. He also owns and directs his own Dan Dakich Basketball Camp which he holds every year in his hometown of Merrillville, Ind. Dakich enjoys baseball (he played first base at Indiana his sophomore year) and golf. He and his wife, the former Jackie White, have one son, Andrew (9), and one daughter, Laura (6). Dan’s father, Tom, played at Bowling Green for legendary coach Harold Anderson, lettering as a junior (1954-55) and senior (1955-56). Accomplishments During the Dakich Era Took the Falcons to their fourth straight MAC Tournament appearance in Cleveland. Guided the Falcons to their first MAC Tournament Championship game appearance since 1983. From 1998-2002, BGSU had its best four-year record since 1946-50 at 79-40. Has seen two players, Keith McLeod and Anthony Stacey, earn MAC Player of the Year honors. The Falcons have a 56-34 (62.3) record in the league over the last five years, the second highest winning percentage among conference schools, in that span. BGSU won 12 conference games or more in three of the last five years after BGSU had won 66.7 percent of its league games just three previous times in 27 seasons prior to his arrival. His Falcons have posted two of the five winning road records the school has achieved since 1963. Has led BGSU to 20-win seasons for the second time in three seasons, the first time BGSU has accomplished that feat since they had six-straight 20-win seasons from 1943-49. Guided BGSU to a MAC Championship in 1999-2000. The Dakich File Full Name: Daniel John Dakich Age: 40 Birthdate/Place: August 17, 1962/Gary, Indiana Hometown: Merrillville, Indiana Began at BGSU: April 21, 1997
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
