John Marshall began coaching in 1989 and 11 years later, he began coaching in Ebb & Flow First Nation.
Then, in 2006, he joined the Mountain View School Division and coached in Gilbert Plains. Throughout the years, Marshall has coached at Whitmore School, Mackenzie Middle School, and at the Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (DRCSS).
John has poured his heart and soul into helping young athletes develop on the court and he wouldn't have it any other way.
"It's a passion, I love it. I'm a gym rat. I love being around the players, the coaches, and the fans," said Marshall. "I enjoy the energy of games and the atmosphere. It's a wonderful place to be."
John has been coaching the junior varsity girls' team at the DRCSS for the past two years. Last year, as the 15-seed in a provincial qualifier, the Clippers pushed the number-two ranked Neelin Spartans to the final whistle before losing by one point.
Carrying that momentum into this season, it was a season to remember for the Green & White. They won a silver medal at the Linden Christian tournament to begin the season before defending home court to win the Clipper Classic. They also won the consolation title at the Crocus Plains tournament and finished second at the Northlands Parkway event. They were ranked as one of the top teams all season long and entered the provincial championships ranked second.
Marshall describes what made this team special.
"They never quit, were hard working, and everyone accepted their roles," commented Marshall. "Whether it was rebounding, scoring, or making good passes, everyone bought in. They hustled, executed, and communicated. It was a special group to work with."
At the provincial championships at the DRCSS, Dauphin hammered Stonewall in their first game before a comeback for the ages. Trailing by 11 points against Morden in their semifinal late in the third quarter, Dauphin staged an incredible comeback to down the Thunder by three points. It earned the team a spot in the provincial final.
For Marshall, it was a game he would never forget.
"It's right up there as far as being one of the greatest games I have been a part of," continued Marshall. "With contributions from different players, we were able to pull that one off. It was pretty special. My wife said she had never seen me jump so high at the end of a game. I was ecstatic with that win."
With an incredible basketball resume, John added another accolade. He was named the Coach of the Month in the Manitoba High School Athletics Association (MHSAA).
"It's very humbling, and I appreciate it. With that said, I really want to put the players in the forefront. They're the ones that do the hard work; they're hustling," continued Marshall. "I'm proud to have won the award. I also want to give a shoutout to all of the incredible coaches in this area. They all devote countless hours to help young athletes flourish."
Now that the high school season is over, John is switching focus to the Dauphin Hawks program. He will coach the U-14 boys' team alongside his son, Logan. They've coached together before, and John is thrilled to share the court with his son again.
"We've had a lot of success, he's a great coach, and I'm very proud that he wants to follow in my footsteps," ended Marshall. "I'm extremely proud of my sons, they're great people, and great coaches."
John says basketball in Dauphin is in great shape and he's looking forward to what's next.
