When the Augusta University men’s basketball team made it to the 2022 NCAA Division II championship tournament and finished the season with a 33-4 record, some assumed they had an easy season, according to head Coach, Dip Metress. He spoke to a group of local home professionals at this month’s CSRA Home Connections meeting.
At the meeting on Wednesday, Metress discussed the 2021-2022 season, which he said wasn’t easy for him or his players.
“Everybody wants to see the end product,” said Metress, who has led the team for 18 seasons. “The end product is our record.”
But the record doesn’t show the challenges the team endured throughout the season, including losses and injuries. The team won the first three games of the championship tournament before losing the fourth game to Northwest Missouri State University.
Nick Sanders, the owner of GTS Dump Trailers, LLC in Harlem, attended the meeting and was inspired by the coach’s determination and perseverance.
“One of the biggest things I took from it was pushing through and never giving up in the hard times,” Sanders said.
Metress also discussed his leadership style, which he described as “firm, fair and consistent.”
“I owe that to the players I coach; I’m very demanding,” Metress said.
His 19th season as the team’s head coach begins this fall.
“People say this year will be easy,” he said. “No, it won’t.”
1 comment
Coach Metress is a credit to college basketball and this community. It is an honor to call him a friend.