Montezuma’s boys basketball program got significant statewide recognition when Head Coach Derrick Dengler was named coach of the year – over all classes – on Friday, March 26, by the Des Moines Register.
Register reporter Matthew Bain interviewed Braves senior star Trey Shearer to gain some insight into the coach.
“Dengler does more for us than anyone will ever know or that he believes he should be credited for,” Shearer said.
“He’s a great coach and he has been an incredible mentor for many, myself included,” Shearer told Bain.
“He put us in position to be successful every day,” Shearer said.
Shearer cited Dengler’s “preparation, which is second to none.”
The Montezuma senior also said the coach allowed the Braves to go out and play their game.
“He never was a ‘system’ guy,” Shearer said. “He never forced us into a certain offense or play style.”
What Dengler did do, Shearer said, was to “always drive us to be our very best, while enjoying the game.”
“He keeps things simple and effective,” Shearer said.
“He focuses on the little things the most, but always expected and brought big things out of his players.”
The Montezuma coach was cited for his team’s run to the Class 1A state championship, which Bain called, “improbable.” That was because the Braves, the tournament’s seventh seed, knocked off the three top-seeded teams during its run to the gold.