Do you believe him? Has Darnell Dozier really coached his final game at Princess Anne High School?
After the Cavaliers’ 51-42 loss to Forest Park in Tuesday’s Group AAA state semifinals, Dozier surprised reporters by saying “I’m job-searching.”
He said if Princess Anne had won a state title, he planned to stay. “If not,” Dozier said, “I’m out.”
Dozier has hinted about leaving before. He said as much after he guided the Cavaliers to the state championship in 2002. He could go out on top, Dozier said then.
His previous hints, though, were greeted with more amusement than anything. This time, he wasn’t smiling.
Dozier said he had two job offers. He wouldn’t name them. He wants to coach somewhere else in Virginia, preferably Northern Virginia, but he doesn’t want to inherit a losing program.
In the locker room after the game, Dozier said he told his team he probably was finished as Princess Anne’s coach.
“I’m shocked,” senior Tonya Clark said. “I kind of knew it was going to come, but I didn’t know it was going to be our class.”
If Dozier exits, he leaves Princess Anne with a career record of 325-35 over 13 seasons. His teams won two state championships and 10 Beach District regular-season crowns.
And he leaves a program that is widely regarded as one of the best in Virginia, one that this season featured 6-3 freshman Elizabeth Williams.
“I would hate to leave Elizabeth, because I love her to death,” Dozier said. “But sometimes it’s better to get a relocation.”
Added Dozier, “I think it’s time to go, I really do.”
- Jami Frankenberry
WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS DOZIER DONE? DO YOU AGREE WITH HOW HE HANDLED IT?
