He began his coaching career more than three decades ago in Sutherland, Neb., a stop he said he doesn’t even consider part of his resume, but Bruce Dick had no trouble coming from recognized Colorado big-school powers to Class 2A Resurrection Christian.
“You know what? It has been really good,” the 58-year-old said.
Good enough that the Cougars have surprised with a 7-0 record, their first undefeated showing before the holidays (6-0) and a sudden entry as a boys basketball team to keep in mind once the postseason begins late next month.
Don’t consider it a coincidence that Resurrection Christian, led by Dick, is beginning to taste its first real success in the sport.
The Sterling native has had quite the odyssey as a bench boss. There was the move to Jefferson County, where he spent a couple of seasons on lower levels for Green Mountain, then turned an interim head coaching position into a 24-year job. Next were five successful seasons in Fort Collins heading Rocky Mountain.
But once the retired business and physical education teacher was informed substitute opportunities were probably over, his yearning to continue working brought him to the Cougars.
His situation is strikingly similar to that of Cougars athletic director and football coach Rich Yonker, who left a distinguished coaching legacy at Poudre. Resurrection Christian had its first winning season (5-4) in 2010.
“Having Rich here made it easier,” Dick said.
So did the fact that the Dicks reside about five minutes from Resurrection Christian (mailing address is Loveland), K-12 with approximately 175 students in high school.
Fact is, the most appealing aspect for Dick has been the players and their welcoming attitude. This is a man who was coaching high school ball well before shorts turned into a kind of flood pants. Few players had tattoos. Rap music, fortunately, had not yet been invented, although disco, thankfully, was on its way out.
The only 3-pointers were in the recently defunct ABA and there was no ESPN to entice selfish play.
In more ways than one, Resurrection Christian, which draws from some 70 surrounding churches, still flirts with that time. And Dick, himself a Christian — “Some people may question that,” he said — applauds it, despite the fact he will see few dunks, significantly less skill and athleticism, and everyone from cheerleaders and the girls junior-varsity team on the bus for road trips.
However, other things just don’t change. Dick, whose career mark is 476-177, is regarded statewide as one of the more, ahem, animated figures on the sideline. His introduction to 2A officiating must have been interesting . . . for the referees. Wife Terri, who has handled more scorebooks than any of the old cronies you can think of, still keeps track of points, fouls and timeouts. And son Bryan films the games.
Admittedly, Dick knew nothing of the 2A level other than it existed, including which league his team was in (the Northern Division of the Mile High), and was stunned when he discovered his Cougars will visit Denver Christian and Dick Katte, a Colorado legend and its winningest coach (831-228), this month.
“I thought, ‘That can’t be right,’ ” Dick laughed.
It’s all part of a new journey.
“The administration has been great and I’m teaching the game a lot,” Dick said. “They’ve been very responsive, running the same system in which we’re trying to run on offense and pressure on defense, make it a scoring fest at times.
“The strategy part at the end is what I love. We’re getting there.”
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
