The Sinclair Community College Basketball program is celebrating its 50th year of existence.
The college institution implemented the team in 1964, kicking off the first men’s basketball season, and hosted its first game at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
The basketball program has been very successful with over 800 wins and four conference championships. The team has been a part of the National Junior College Athletic Association and has played in the Ohio Community College Association as well.
In the inaugural years, the team was led by Head Coach Larry Hamant, who had
a 27-win career throughout four seasons. However, Kevin O’Neill was the most successful coach, recording a 203-106 (65.7 percent) record in 12 seasons from 1968-1980.
Don Cundiff followed with a 305-225 record (57.5 percent) from 1980 – 1997. From 1997-2003, Paul Bryant had an 88 to 74 record (54.4%) for six seasons.
Today, the program is led by Bryant’s successor, Head Coach and Athletic Director Jeff Price, who has achieved over 200 wins and one conference championship in over 11 seasons, during his reign from 2003 until the present.
Coach Price started out at Sinclair as an assistant coach to Paul Bryant’s staff. This was an adjustment for Price, who came from a D2 NCAA college program, where he had the opportunity to work with athletes for four years of college as opposed to two.
“It was a drastic mindset change for me,” said Price. “I was now working with players who were at the beginning of their basketball careers, who may have come from a high school team that didn’t get much exposure, or athletes who needed to work on game fundamentals and development.”
Price continued: “I was making more of an impact on players’ ability to go to the next level to four year institutions.”
Throughout the years, the basketball team has been more than dribbles and high-flying hoop action. The program also serves as a mentoring and life skills tool that teaches players about integrity, service to the community and good sportsmanship.
In 2014, the basketball team volunteered for the area’s largest holiday charity dinner in downtown Dayton. The team also mentors and trains kids for the Oakwood youth basketball program.
Annually, players give their time to visit veteran’s hospitals to show respect and appreciation, interacting with the nation’s military veterans.
“We are always exploring ways to improve students outside of basketball,” said Price. “We want to instill in our players that commitment and responsibility is something required on and off the court.”
Not all athletic programs make it to a consistent 50 years, often due to lack of funding, conference eligibility or academics. Every coach, player and member of administrative staff involved in the program’s history should be proud of this major accomplishment and milestone.
“I am honored to be a part of the Sinclair basketball legacy,” said Price. “It’s been
like a family. I would like to be a mainstay and continue the tradition of helping student athletes realize their dreams.”
