As he looks toward building the program, Coach Danny Fish wants to honor the history and tradition of the DCHS women’s basketball program and start an alumni club to keep in touch with former players.
Inspired by a reunion of the 1986 DCHS Tigerette Softball team during the spring, Coach Fish told WJLE recently that he would like to pay tribute to former Lady Tiger basketball players and learn through them more about the earlier years of the program.
“I’m trying to get the history of the women’s basketball program. I want to start an alumni club to where I can have names, emails, phone numbers, and addresses of people who have played in the program before. I want to know the background and history of the women’s basketball program. It’s because of the players who came before us that we have such a rich tradition,” said Coach Fish.
“I’m trying to generate some excitement by bringing back some of the older players. I believe that for us to have strong athletics at the high school with any program we need community involvement. I’m trying to reach out to the community and to former players and coaches. I want them to be involved,” Coach Fish continued.
“We’re looking at maybe having a reception for former and current players and coaches closer to the season. We want to get them together and hear their stories. All through my coaching days, regardless of what I’ve done before, it’s always been about the relationships. Win games. Lose games. Win championships. Not win championships. When you come back years later to tell those stories it all comes down to the relationships you made with each other. Renewing old relationships and making new relationships is something I’d like to do and build bridges to the future,” he said.
While his emphasis is on making contact with former Lady Tigers, Coach Fish said he would also like to see the men’s program honor Tigers of the past. “Its not a separate entity but one. I played in the 90’s and would like to see my former teammates again. We have a very rich history in men and women’s basketball and I plan to work with Coach Lynus Martin on maybe doing something for the men too,” he said.
Former Lady Tigers are urged to send their names, addresses, phone numbers, email information to dannyfish@dekalbschools.net.
“I plan to start a bulk mailing list and send out a blast email to keep them informed about what we’re doing in the program,” Coach Fish concluded.
Coach Fish was named to head the DCHS Girls Basketball Program last month after Coach Nathaniel Kennard resigned. Coach Fish was also chosen earlier in the summer to succeed Coach Danny Bond as the head coach of the DCHS Tigerette Fast Pitch Softball Team. Coach Bond stepped down as coach but remains in the school system having taken another position.
Fish was born and raised in DeKalb County and he graduated from DCHS in 1996. During his high school years, Fish played both basketball and baseball. He served as an assistant to Coach Bond in the softball program for the last four years before being named to succeed him. Fish teaches physical education at DCHS.