By John Harvey
JAMES CITY – For the third time in three years, Lafayette
High’s boys basket
Dan Downs has stepped down as coach after one season with
the Rams. The position was posted on the Williamsburg-James City County School
division’s site on Wednesday morning.
Downs guided the Rams to a 10-12 record in his only
season on the Lafayette bench. The team posted a 7-2 record in the Colonial
Rivers Conference 25 and lost to New Kent in the conference tournament
semifinals.
He said the decision to step down was personal. "I had a tough decision to make regarding my family," he explained. "My wife decided to return to work after a year off with our two boys and we knew the time commitments would be hard. Out of fairness to them and the team, I thought it would be best if I took a step back for a couple of years while my boys are young in the hopes that I would some day return to being a head coach."
He said the decision to step down was personal. "I had a tough decision to make regarding my family," he explained. "My wife decided to return to work after a year off with our two boys and we knew the time commitments would be hard. Out of fairness to them and the team, I thought it would be best if I took a step back for a couple of years while my boys are young in the hopes that I would some day return to being a head coach."
Downs was named coach at Lafayette nearly a year ago. He
replaced Patrick Brown, who had stepped down after the 2013 season to spend
more time with his family.
Downs will remain with the program, serving this winter as an assistant coach. "I loved my time as Lafayette's boys basketball coach," he sad. "I had a great support from athletic director Dan Barner, the administration and my coaching staff Leonard Marble and Jeff Mitchell. Thankfully Mr. Barner allowed me to remain on the coaching staff."
Downs will remain with the program, serving this winter as an assistant coach. "I loved my time as Lafayette's boys basketball coach," he sad. "I had a great support from athletic director Dan Barner, the administration and my coaching staff Leonard Marble and Jeff Mitchell. Thankfully Mr. Barner allowed me to remain on the coaching staff."
The Rams should return three starters from last year’s
team including rising juniors Tyrek Graham, C.J. Miller and rising senior Bryce
Losty.
“He was a very personable coach and he always respected
the opinions of his player,” Losty said. “He also brought a great source of
energy.”
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