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

Wearing a brown go well with, brown tie, white shirt and black costume footwear, Christian Dunbar sat calmly in his chair because the noise within the fitness center grew louder and the depth degree of his Eagle Rock gamers stored rising as they tried to combat off South Gate within the City Section Division II championship recreation.

Pressure 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 finest participant to a knee harm Dec. 19 and needed to regroup earlier than they ended their City Section 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 Times’ 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. educating place at Eagle Rock and hasn’t left, frequently discovering methods to win along with his group of neighborhood children, a lot of them two-sport athletes. A few soccer gamers helped the workforce this season.

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