Brian Dunn, the winningest softball coach in West Tennessee history, joins Ivy Renfroe, Ryan Scott, Jodie Parrish and Liberty ‘Libby’ Cash as the newest members of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame.
The five will become the 33rd class to be inducted when ceremonies are held at 6:30 p.m., April 19 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
Brian Dunn, who coaches at University School of Jackson, has compiled a record of 1,105 wins and 285 losses in 32 varsity seasons at the high school and college level – 819-217, softball in 24 seasons at Riverside, Union University and USJ, and 286-68 in volleyball at Union and USJ.
Brian Dunn began his 25th year in coaching softball, directed USJ to state titles in 2010 and 2012.
Coaching softball at Union, he won three national championships in nine years, and he will be inducted into the school’s sports hall of fame, April 27.
WNWS.COM visited with Brian Dunn for a Question and Answer session about his career and his Hall of Fame selection.
Question: What were your thoughts when you were told you had been selected for induction into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame?
Answer: I was humbled, honored and very thankful at the same time. It brought back such a flood of memories of all the players and assistant coaches who worked so hard to be a part of something bigger than themselves over these 25 years.
Question: You’ve enjoyed – and been successful – coaching different sports. What would you say has been most gratifying for you in softball and volleyball?
Answer: It has always been most gratifying in both sports to help and see individuals come together unselfishly to form a single unit with a singular goal.
Question: Did you ever consider coaching football, basketball or baseball on a regular basis?
Answer: Having been a baseball player at San Diego State, I always envisioned that I would be a baseball coach. God had a different plan for my life, and after coaching softball for so many years, I would never consider going back to baseball.
Question: Although the game of softball has not changed since you began coaching, how would you say the approach to the game has changed?
Answer: The game is still pretty straightforward with pitching and defense leading to championships, but I would say that the offensive part of softball has really changed. The game has become more offensive as rule changes – pitching rubbers moved back – strength training and bat technology have all aided in this change.
Question: What would you say is the toughest part of coaching today?
Answer: Clearly that there are so many more opportunities and distractions pulling on the players. If things get tough, they might just move on to something else rather than grind it out and get better.
Question: Besides recruiting, what is the biggest difference between coaching at the college and high school level.
Answer: The college season is quite a bit longer and the players in general are a more committed. Also, with the majority of your players being far away from home, you and your wife and kids take on a larger family role with the college players.
Former NFL and UT star Trey Teague, who was inducted into the 2008 Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame, will be the banquet’s speaker.
For ticket information, contact Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558 or email [email protected].
(PHOTO: Brian Dunn)
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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