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Bruce Dall will try to weave his championship magic at Cedar Rapids Prairie
Girls’ basketball: A five-time state-championship coach, Dall inherits a team that was 16-5 last season and returns its top four scorers
Nov. 21, 2024 8:14 am
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CEDAR RAPIDS -- Asia Beale saw the name at the top of the resume, and shrugged.
“Not gonna lie, no, I’d never heard of him,” said Beale, senior at Cedar Rapids Prairie, in reference to the girls’ basketball coaching application that Bruce Dall submitted in May.
“But once he came to interview and we saw his (resume), it was crazy.”
Here are some of the high points:
* A 29-year record of 542-144, including 265-53 in 14 seasons at Dike-New Hartford.
* Four consecutive Class 2A state championships at Dike-New Hartford (2021-24), plus a 1A title at Ackley AGWSR (2009).
* Twelve state-tournament appearances.
* National coach-of-the-year finalist, 2024.
The last time a Metro school made this splashy of a hire in any girls’ sport was whom?
Teresa Bair, Linn-Mar volleyball? Larry Niemeyer, Jefferson basketball/softball?
“I knew (Dall) was a state champion, what, five times?” junior Emily Larsen said, accurately. “Him coming here, wow. We know what he can do for a program.”
Dall isn’t building this one from the pits.
The Hawks were 16-5 last season under Kenyon Murray and advanced to the 5A regional finals, falling at Cedar Falls one round short of state.
Ranked No. 8 in The Gazette’s preseason 5A rankings, Prairie’s top four scorers from 2023-24 — Larsen, Brynlie Hadenfeldt, KeaOnna Worley and Beale — all return.
“This is my 30th year in coaching, and collectively, this is the most skilled group of individuals I’ve had,” Dall said. “The big question is how do we apply this skill and become a great team?”
Dall is 55 (and looks younger). He graduated from Dike High School in 1988, then began his coaching career at Janesvillle. Stops followed by Allison-Bristow, AGWSR and Dike-New Hartford.
Everywhere he has gone, he was won. Now, he’ll try to do it at the big-school level.
“I am always up for a fun new challenge,” Dall said. “For me, it was time to move on and try something new.”
The Hawks can be ready for heightened expectations defensively. Dike-New Hartford allowed 32.2 points per game last season. And when AGWSR won its title in 2009, the score in the final was 28-27, over Springville.
“Our identity? I think we’ll know by Christmas,” Dall said. “Obviously, they’ll be expected to play great defense, to play together and to play for each other.
“If they do that, the sky is the limit.”
The Hawks don’t have a wealth of depth; they’ll be relying on a core group of six players.
“Those six ... they’ll all talk at the same time,” Dall said. “I have no idea how they do it, but they understand each other. It’s quite funny.”
Beale said, “Coach lets us play, but there’s structure there too. He’s got a really good feel for the game.”
“We’re not too deep, but I think we can take it a long, long way.”
Larsen added: “(Dall) is very motivating. Practices are tough. The drills and (terminology) is different, but he brings a lot of energy. The vibe, the energy ... it’s great.”
Prairie opens the season Nov. 30, against Sioux City Heelan, as part of Rivalry Saturday at Kirkwood Community College
“At practice, he’ll ask, ‘What is (Sioux City) Heelan doing right now?’” Larsen said. “It makes us go ever harder.”
Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com
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