'Teddy bear' pilots Mustangs to state

MOUNT VERNON — The rally had begun, the momentum had swung and a timeout had been called.

If you know Dennis Roloff, you knew what was coming next.

'All right!' he said, popping off the bench, hands clapping and arms pumping. 'All right! All right!!'

Alli Platte had seen the routine before.

'I remember we were at Beckman and we were behind and we were coming back,' said Platte, who plays basketball for Roloff at Mount Vernon High School. 'I'd never seen so much emotion. He was pumping his arms and his face was all red.'

The Mustangs completed their comeback last Saturday, erasing an 18-point deficit to defeat Center Point-Urbana in a Class 3A regional final.

'One of my top five wins, all-time,' Roloff declared.

There are a lot to choose from. Roloff, 61, carries a 363-187 career mark as the Mustangs (16-8) get set to face No. 1 Mediapolis (24-0) in a 3A state quarterfinal Tuesday.

It's his sixth state appearance, his first at Mount Vernon.

'After the season we've had, with all the injuries and the illnesses, it's been so satisfying to see it all come together. It's really satisfying for the team. It's satisfying for me.'

Roloff is satisfied, yes. Vindicated?

He chuckled.

'I promised my wife I would stay positive and let it go,' Roloff said, referring to his exit at Cedar Rapids Kennedy three years ago.

Roloff was let go at Kennedy after a 20-year run that produced more state-tournament appearances (five) than losing seasons (three).

'I'm not going to say much, but ... I'd given my heart and soul to a school district for 37 years. I wanted to continue to coach there,' Roloff said.

Kennedy Athletics Director Aaron Stecker couldn't comment on specifics of the end of Roloff's tenure. He did say, 'I know things ended tough here for him. But I'm happy for Dennis for the success he has had at Mount Vernon. He's a great guy and a great coach.'

A few months later, the job opened up at Mount Vernon, a program that was far from barren. Bob Kintzel had guided the Mustangs to a state championship in 2010 and a runner-up finish in 2011.

Kintzel stepped down so he could spend more time watching his daughters play college volleyball.

'(Roloff) came here with a great deal of experience and success,' said Mount Vernon High School principal Steve Brand. 'He was excited to coach, and we were excited to have him here.'

Platte recalled her initial reaction.

'I was reading the story that he had been hired, and I saw his picture,' she said. 'I thought he was going to be super mean.'

Looks were deceiving.

'I don't think I've ever had a coach who was so loving,' she said. 'You can tell he wants the best for us. He looks kind of grouchy on the outside, but he's like a big teddy bear. A grandpa.'

Participation in high school girls' basketball has more than doubled in Roloff's three years at Mount Vernon. And the program has continued to win.

His first team went 18-5 and captured a share of the Wamac Conference East Division title. The Mustangs were 15-9 last year, then 16-8 this season.

Still, state-tournament prospects looked bleak when it was 26-8 against CPU in the second quarter, then 36-20 at halftime.

In the locker room, Roloff told his team: 'We have them right where we want them.'

Turns out, he was right. The Mustangs caught, then passed the Stormin' Pointers in the fourth quarter.

When Mount Vernon won the 2A title in 2010, it was unranked. So is this team, which faces a huge challenge.

'They're a great ball club,' Roloff said of Mediapolis. 'But the pressure's on them. They're No. 1 and undefeated. We're 16-8.

'But with (Kaitlyn) Volesky back (from injury), it gives us another rebounder and another scorer. We have six kids that can score double-figures at any time.'

Regardless of how things pan out in Des Moines, Roloff will meet with Brand afterward and discuss the future. Roloff was hospitalized earlier this season with dizziness and dehydration. The daily commute from Cedar Rapids to Mount Vernon and back takes a toll.

He'll step aside, this time, when he's ready.

'We're aware that he won't do this forever,' Brand said. 'When he does step away, the program will be in good shape. Whoever is next will be in a position to come in and be successful.'

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