Coming Home: Vance Dallas, a 2002 Frankston graduate, to be Indians’ new basketball coach

Published 6:00 pm Thursday, April 25, 2024

Frankston not only found a successful coach to fill its opening for head boys basketball coach, but it is also bringing one of its own back home in the process.

Vance Dallas, who played on Frankston’s 2001-02 state tournament team under legendary coach Robert Loper, is returning to coach his alma mater following a nine-year stint at Douglass.

“I grew up playing for Coach Loper,” Dallas said. “Frankston is a special place to me. It means a lot to me. My great uncle, Jim Boles, was on the state team in the 1960s. There is a lot of history for me there.”

Dallas got his head coaching start at Brookeland High School in 2014-15 before going to Douglass, where he led the Indians to 218 wins in nine years.

“I just felt like it was time for a change, a new challenge,” Dallas said. “The history of basketball has meant so much for me. I played for Coach Loper there, and he got me into coaching really. He is such a big influence. We still talk every other week.

“In my first year as a head coach at Brookeland, when thinking of the goals I wanted to achieve professionally, and a lot of those dreams and accomplishments I’m chasing were goals that Coach Loper and Frankston achieved. And to be able to come back to my hometown and chase those goals and dreams means a lot.”

Under Dallas, Douglass won 86 games the past two seasons, including campaigns of 30 and 31 wins in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

“It was a great place to grow as a coach and a person,” Dallas said. “I love the kids I had, some I hope to have lifelong friendships with. Twins Drew and Jace Bobo, Jaidyn Davis, Cory Melton and JT Davis and many more have been huge in my life. I would not have gotten a job like Frankston without them.”

Dallas takes over for Scott Albritton, who led the Indians to 47 wins the past two seasons.

“I have nothing but respect for Coach Albritton,” Dallas said. “I am looking forward to building on what he’s built there.”

Dallas knows the expectations are high at Frankston, but he embraces the challenge and all that comes with it.

“There’s a lot of history, not only from Coach Loper but Coach (G.V. “Bo”) Ousley before him, a lot of long-term history,” Dallas said. “I know it’s a tough, super competitive district. But if you can make it out, you have a good chance of making a run.

“My thing is the kids there now or coming up, are kids of my childhood friends. I always care about the kids, but when it’s kids of family and childhood friends, it makes it more special to win with them and see them grow up and chasing history together. Coach (Paul) Gould (Frankston athletic director) and I talked about it, there will be no more pressure than what I put on myself because I care about the program and the history of the program. I want to see us be successful not only for the current players and coaches but also for the past players and coaches. I care a lot about it.”

For the next two school years, Frankston will compete in District 19-2A with Martin’s Mill, LaPoynor, Alba-Golden, Cayuga, Fruitvale and Cross Roads.