Boys’ basketball coach of the 12 months: Christian Dunbar of Eagle Rock

Sporting a brown go well with, brown tie, white shirt and black gown footwear, Christian Dunbar sat calmly in his chair because the noise within the fitness center grew louder and the depth stage of his Eagle Rock gamers saved rising as they tried to battle off South Gate within the Metropolis Part Division II championship recreation.

Stress was rising, urgency was rising, and but Dunbar refused to alter his demeanor. He was sending a message to his gamers.

“I figure if I’m calm, the guys will stay calm,” he mentioned.

Eagle Rock defeated South Gate 53-49 to win its third title in 10 years beneath Dunbar, however this one was his most satisfying as a result of the Eagles misplaced their greatest participant to a knee harm Dec. 19 and needed to regroup earlier than they ended their Metropolis Part season with a 14-game profitable streak.

For having the ability to regulate and get probably the most of his gamers, Dunbar has been chosen The Occasions’ boys’ basketball coach of the 12 months.

He’s a former head coach at Chatsworth and Mission Hills Bishop Alemany. He secured a P.E. instructing place at Eagle Rock and hasn’t left, frequently discovering methods to win together with his group of neighborhood youngsters, a lot of them two-sport athletes. A few soccer gamers helped the crew this season.

“They brougth that toughness to our basketball team,” he mentioned.