By Bruce Rolfe
For many students who go through the same school district from kindergarten to graduation, it’s common to leave the area to attend college before settling down in other locations to begin their careers or pursue other future endeavors.
Galesburg-Augusta graduate and current Dean of Students and varsity basketball coach Brian Dolph has played in the Arena Football League in other parts of the country and even spent some time overseas, but he wanted to make an impact in the G-A School District and area he felt was a special place growing up and remains a special place today.
A 1996 G-A graduate, Dolph attended the G-A School District from kindergarten through 12th grade except for one semester he attended Parchment where he said his father bought a house, but quickly discovered his son wanted to return to G-A.
Dolph flourished on the football field and basketball court at G-A. He grew up in an era watching football at G-A when Hall of Fame coach Bill Maskill guided the Ram football program and football and Friday nights under the lights at G-A was a big deal.
Similar to so many other G-A students, Dolph said Coach Maskill was a big influence on him.
“He was larger than life,” said the G-A graduate.
“My dad, I remember going through all of his old yearbooks and seeing the people he went to school with and the old football pictures of the guys out there. It was just something that he (Maskill) was larger than life,” adds Dolph.
Dolph excelled in football (three varsity letters), basketball (two varsity letters) and baseball (4 varsity letters) at G-A.
Brian played as a split end on the football team. According to information compiled by Dale Martin for Dolph’s Hall of Fame induction into G-A’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015, he led the Rams in scoring three years in a row. In 1994 he set a school record with 45 catches. He was All-KVA honorable mention in 1993 and All-KVA 1st Team in 1994 and 1995. He was All-S.W. Michigan in 1994 and 1995, All-State honorable mention in 1994 and All-State 1st team in 1995. Brian was All-KVA in basketball his junior and senior seasons. He led the Rams with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots per game as a senior, earning All-State honorable mention recognition. According to Martin, in baseball Brian was All-KVA honorable mention in 1994 and All-KVA 1st Team in 1995 and 1996. He led the Rams with a .489 batting average and 28 RBI’s in 1996. He earned All-State status in 1996.
Dolph went on to succeed in football at Saginaw Valley State University where he played four years as a wide receiver.
According to Martin’s compiled information, Dolph was a team football captain at SVSU in 1999 and 2000. Martin’s research also notes in 2000 Dolph helped SVSU win its first league championship.
Dolph was named the GLIAC Player of the Year and was named to the Division II 1st Team All-American squad. He was also a candidate for the “Harlon Hill Award,” Division II’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
He had the opportunity to continue playing football in the Arena Football League. Initially, his Arena Football playing experience took him to Houston where he played for the Thunder Bears, and to Indiana as a member of the Firebirds.
After he and his wife got married, the couple moved to Germany for several months where his wife was deployed.
The couple moved back to the area near the time their son Jalen was born, and Brian resumed his Arena Football playing career with the Battle Creek Crunch. He later played for the Kalamazoo Explosion and the Fort Wayne Freedom.
While Dolph is in his 12th year working for the G-A School District, he returned to the district in 2004. It was while he was playing with the Kalamazoo Explosion and Fort Wayne Freedom he helped in different coaching capacities at G-A. He served as an assistant football coach under former varsity football coach Ed Moreland for a period of time and was varsity football coach from 2008-2011. He also helped former boys JV basketball coach Tony Smith for a year.
When his Arena Football League playing days were over, Dolph said there was a pull to begin his career in the district he grew up in and graduated from.
Dolph said besides being his home and growing up in the school district, his father, uncles, aunts, cousins, and his brother attended the local school district.
“There’s just that legacy of there’s so many families that have that same kind of experience here. I think that when you kind of establish those roots, it tends to run deep. I think that you just enjoy being a part of it and you’re grateful for the opportunity and the people you get to work with. There’s not too many things I take as much pride in as being a Galesburg-Augusta Ram. I love being here and I say that genuinely. I will be here until the day I die, or until they get rid of me,” said Dolph.
While there may be career advancement opportunities in other locations some day to consider that would benefit Dolph and his family, the G-A graduate feels very comfortable working at the local school district and feels G-A is where he belongs.
“I’ve always been a confident guy and I think that if I really wanted to do something else in life, I feel like I’ve got the work ethic and the know how to do so. However, I’ve always known that I wanted to end up here. And when I say this is home, I don’t know if I can say it with any more conviction. Like, there’s no other place on the face of the earth that I would rather be then here,” offered Dolph.
Once he graduated from Western Michigan University, his first job at G-A was as a long term substitute teacher. He knew he wanted to teach in the school district he attended and was waiting for a teaching position to open. He started working in the district’s in school suspension room. Then the opportunity to be dean of students at the middle school opened and he accepted the position. He became the dean of students for the high school and middle school, and was once the food service director as well.
Currently in his 11th year as dean of students at G-A High School, Dolph’s only job in public education has been in the G-A School District. He emphasized the opportunity to work in the school district he grew up in and loves, means a lot.
“I don’t take it for granted. It’s like when we talk to our students, just having that gratitude for what you have. There’s just no place that I feel is more special. No place that I would want. It just wouldn’t have as much meaning as what it does to be here,” said Dolph.
Dolph said it’s the people of the Galesburg and Augusta communities he feels makes the school district special.
“Growing up here, it’s that small town feel. People genuinely care about the community and the people in it. When I was growing up in the 80s and 90s, Friday nights when the town shuts down. Just being a part of that experience and coach Maskill. Watching your heros go onto the field. It’s just so many things that go into it. I love the small town feel, I love the people. I love the community. I love the town itself, whether it’s Galesburg or Augusta. I think it’s a combination of a lot of little things,” said Dolph.
Besides having the opportunity to work in the school district he graduated from, Dolph enjoys being the head varsity basketball coach at G-A where he had a lot of success playing and a lot of memories as a student. Currently in his 5th year coaching the boys varsity basketball team, Dolph even had the opportunity to coach his son, Jalen. He emphasized both have been special opportunities.
He recalled it was all about football at G-A when he was growing up. G-A wasn’t known for basketball, but he said the group of players he came through school with had a passion for basketball. His junior season in 1994-95, the team lost to Class C No. 2 ranked Olivet in the district championship game, however the 12-9 record the team finished with marked the first time G-A had finished above .500 since 1984.
“I think it was the Fab Five era (University of Michigan), and I think we all loved watching those guys play. And I think we were just a close knit group. Being a part of that and thinking that we had a chance to do something that really hadn’t been done, it was intriguing. And then Mike Woodard (current G-A athletic director and former varsity basketball coach) took over (following the 93-94 season). I think he had coached us from the time I was 13 playing Town and Country baseball. When he took over when I was a junior and senior in high school, it was just almost like a natural fit. So we took great pride in trying to set ourselves apart from a basketball stand point, some things that we didn’t feel like had really been done around here,” explained Dolph.
Dolph said coaching his son Jalen was a surreal moment in his life. He not only enjoyed the opportunity to coach his son, but the team Jalen played on his senior year had a lot of success, something he was very happy to see.
The 2022-2023 team Dolph coached that his son played on, finished with a 17-5 record and were SAC Valley Division champions. The 17 wins was a school record for wins in a season.
He said there was a delicate balance as a coach and father of not wanting to show favoritism, and he felt it may have gone in the opposite direction.
“I was always probably a little more stern with him. To be completely honest and transparent, I think that was the most nerve wracking year that I ever had coaching, because I wanted it so bad for those guys. Because, him (his son) and his friends really hadn’t won a lot and they faced a lot of challenges. I just wanted them to taste success because they were such a good group of kids. So just very thankful to be able to coach him and not only just coach him, but being in our home town and in our community and that was a pretty special year,” recalled Dolph, who also guided G-A to a second straight SAC Valley Division championship last year and 16-6 overall record.
For many students who go through the same school district from kindergarten to graduation, it’s common to leave the area to attend college before settling down in other locations to begin their careers or pursue other future endeavors.
Galesburg-Augusta graduate and current Dean of Students and varsity basketball coach Brian Dolph has played in the Arena Football League in other parts of the country and even spent some time overseas, but he wanted to make an impact in the G-A School District and area he felt was a special place growing up and remains a special place today.
A 1996 G-A graduate, Dolph attended the G-A School District from kindergarten through 12th grade except for one semester he attended Parchment where he said his father bought a house, but quickly discovered his son wanted to return to G-A.
Dolph flourished on the football field and basketball court at G-A. He grew up in an era watching football at G-A when Hall of Fame coach Bill Maskill guided the Ram football program and football and Friday nights under the lights at G-A was a big deal.
Similar to so many other G-A students, Dolph said Coach Maskill was a big influence on him.
“He was larger than life,” said the G-A graduate.
“My dad, I remember going through all of his old yearbooks and seeing the people he went to school with and the old football pictures of the guys out there. It was just something that he (Maskill) was larger than life,” adds Dolph.
Dolph excelled in football (three varsity letters), basketball (two varsity letters) and baseball (4 varsity letters) at G-A.
Brian played as a split end on the football team. According to information compiled by Dale Martin for Dolph’s Hall of Fame induction into G-A’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015, he led the Rams in scoring three years in a row. In 1994 he set a school record with 45 catches. He was All-KVA honorable mention in 1993 and All-KVA 1st Team in 1994 and 1995. He was All-S.W. Michigan in 1994 and 1995, All-State honorable mention in 1994 and All-State 1st team in 1995. Brian was All-KVA in basketball his junior and senior seasons. He led the Rams with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots per game as a senior, earning All-State honorable mention recognition. According to Martin, in baseball Brian was All-KVA honorable mention in 1994 and All-KVA 1st Team in 1995 and 1996. He led the Rams with a .489 batting average and 28 RBI’s in 1996. He earned All-State status in 1996.
Dolph went on to succeed in football at Saginaw Valley State University where he played four years as a wide receiver.
According to Martin’s compiled information, Dolph was a team football captain at SVSU in 1999 and 2000. Martin’s research also notes in 2000 Dolph helped SVSU win its first league championship.
Dolph was named the GLIAC Player of the Year and was named to the Division II 1st Team All-American squad. He was also a candidate for the “Harlon Hill Award,” Division II’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
He had the opportunity to continue playing football in the Arena Football League. Initially, his Arena Football playing experience took him to Houston where he played for the Thunder Bears, and to Indiana as a member of the Firebirds.
After he and his wife got married, the couple moved to Germany for several months where his wife was deployed.
The couple moved back to the area near the time their son Jalen was born, and Brian resumed his Arena Football playing career with the Battle Creek Crunch. He later played for the Kalamazoo Explosion and the Fort Wayne Freedom.
While Dolph is in his 12th year working for the G-A School District, he returned to the district in 2004. It was while he was playing with the Kalamazoo Explosion and Fort Wayne Freedom he helped in different coaching capacities at G-A. He served as an assistant football coach under former varsity football coach Ed Moreland for a period of time and was varsity football coach from 2008-2011. He also helped former boys JV basketball coach Tony Smith for a year.
When his Arena Football League playing days were over, Dolph said there was a pull to begin his career in the district he grew up in and graduated from.
Dolph said besides being his home and growing up in the school district, his father, uncles, aunts, cousins, and his brother attended the local school district.
“There’s just that legacy of there’s so many families that have that same kind of experience here. I think that when you kind of establish those roots, it tends to run deep. I think that you just enjoy being a part of it and you’re grateful for the opportunity and the people you get to work with. There’s not too many things I take as much pride in as being a Galesburg-Augusta Ram. I love being here and I say that genuinely. I will be here until the day I die, or until they get rid of me,” said Dolph.
While there may be career advancement opportunities in other locations some day to consider that would benefit Dolph and his family, the G-A graduate feels very comfortable working at the local school district and feels G-A is where he belongs.
“I’ve always been a confident guy and I think that if I really wanted to do something else in life, I feel like I’ve got the work ethic and the know how to do so. However, I’ve always known that I wanted to end up here. And when I say this is home, I don’t know if I can say it with any more conviction. Like, there’s no other place on the face of the earth that I would rather be then here,” offered Dolph.
Once he graduated from Western Michigan University, his first job at G-A was as a long term substitute teacher. He knew he wanted to teach in the school district he attended and was waiting for a teaching position to open. He started working in the district’s in school suspension room. Then the opportunity to be dean of students at the middle school opened and he accepted the position. He became the dean of students for the high school and middle school, and was once the food service director as well.
Currently in his 11th year as dean of students at G-A High School, Dolph’s only job in public education has been in the G-A School District. He emphasized the opportunity to work in the school district he grew up in and loves, means a lot.
“I don’t take it for granted. It’s like when we talk to our students, just having that gratitude for what you have. There’s just no place that I feel is more special. No place that I would want. It just wouldn’t have as much meaning as what it does to be here,” said Dolph.
Dolph said it’s the people of the Galesburg and Augusta communities he feels makes the school district special.
“Growing up here, it’s that small town feel. People genuinely care about the community and the people in it. When I was growing up in the 80s and 90s, Friday nights when the town shuts down. Just being a part of that experience and coach Maskill. Watching your heros go onto the field. It’s just so many things that go into it. I love the small town feel, I love the people. I love the community. I love the town itself, whether it’s Galesburg or Augusta. I think it’s a combination of a lot of little things,” said Dolph.
Besides having the opportunity to work in the school district he graduated from, Dolph enjoys being the head varsity basketball coach at G-A where he had a lot of success playing and a lot of memories as a student. Currently in his 5th year coaching the boys varsity basketball team, Dolph even had the opportunity to coach his son, Jalen. He emphasized both have been special opportunities.
He recalled it was all about football at G-A when he was growing up. G-A wasn’t known for basketball, but he said the group of players he came through school with had a passion for basketball. His junior season in 1994-95, the team lost to Class C No. 2 ranked Olivet in the district championship game, however the 12-9 record the team finished with marked the first time G-A had finished above .500 since 1984.
“I think it was the Fab Five era (University of Michigan), and I think we all loved watching those guys play. And I think we were just a close knit group. Being a part of that and thinking that we had a chance to do something that really hadn’t been done, it was intriguing. And then Mike Woodard (current G-A athletic director and former varsity basketball coach) took over (following the 93-94 season). I think he had coached us from the time I was 13 playing Town and Country baseball. When he took over when I was a junior and senior in high school, it was just almost like a natural fit. So we took great pride in trying to set ourselves apart from a basketball stand point, some things that we didn’t feel like had really been done around here,” explained Dolph.
Dolph said coaching his son Jalen was a surreal moment in his life. He not only enjoyed the opportunity to coach his son, but the team Jalen played on his senior year had a lot of success, something he was very happy to see.
The 2022-2023 team Dolph coached that his son played on, finished with a 17-5 record and were SAC Valley Division champions. The 17 wins was a school record for wins in a season.
He said there was a delicate balance as a coach and father of not wanting to show favoritism, and he felt it may have gone in the opposite direction.
“I was always probably a little more stern with him. To be completely honest and transparent, I think that was the most nerve wracking year that I ever had coaching, because I wanted it so bad for those guys. Because, him (his son) and his friends really hadn’t won a lot and they faced a lot of challenges. I just wanted them to taste success because they were such a good group of kids. So just very thankful to be able to coach him and not only just coach him, but being in our home town and in our community and that was a pretty special year,” recalled Dolph, who also guided G-A to a second straight SAC Valley Division championship last year and 16-6 overall record.
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