By CRAIG HARVEY
OBSERVER Sports Editor
Jack Dugan has been the girls' volleyball coach at Forestville for 14 years.
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Submitted Photo
Forestville volleyball coach Jack Dugan, middle, was recently presented the Section 6 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Coaches Sportsmanship Award. Pictured from left are Section 6 Executive Director Tim?Slade, Dugan and Forestville athletic director Scott Hazelton.
Like any coach, Dugan doesn't do it for the recognition. He does it for the love of working with youth and to be involved with sports.
At the Section 6 recognition dinner in September, Dugan's hard work was rewarded as he was honored with the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Coaches Sportsmanship Award.
"It's quite an honor," Dugan said. "I was quite humbled by it. To achieve an award like that, you coach not for awards, but for being with the kids and to enjoy the competitiveness. To represent Forestville was more of an honor. I was just humbled by it."
Dugan was nominated for the award by Forestville athletic director Scott Hazelton. When Section 6 sent out the request form, the requirements read, "A coach selected to receive this award will be a coach who treats all teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials with the utmost respect and within the standards set by the coach's code of conduct."
When Hazelton read that, Dugan was the first who came to mind.
"Jack is a person I enjoy working with," Hazelton said. "He is a great friend. He really strives for the best of his kids. Whether he is having a good season or bad season, through all that stuff, Jack never compromises good sportsmanship. That carries over to the kids. I think he is a great mentor to the student athletes on and off the field. He teaches life lessons."
With any coach from any sport eligible for the honor, Hazelton said he was skeptical a small school such as Forestville would be considered for the award. Forestville is in a conference with 28 schools and bigger schools to the likes of Jamestown, Olean, Falconer, Dunkirk, Fredonia, Southwestern and Allegany-Limestone.
See DUGAN, Page?B3
"I'm sure there were many deserving candidates," Hazelton said. "I was skeptical, but being in my position, it is part of my position to nominate coaches or athletes for awards."
Under Dugan, the Lady Hornets have won nearly 140 games, won two divisional titles and have appeared in two sectional finals.
Dugan is a coach who can relate to his athletes as he graduated from the same school he now coaches.
"Jack brings a lot to the table," Hazelton said. "Being at a smaller school and having an alumni work here is huge. It gives the community a sense of it's one of our own coming back to make our future brighter. He is from that small town and being very successful."
"Forestville was always in back of my mind," Dugan said about where he eventually wanted to teach and coach. "To take over a program at my alma mater fell into place for me. I tell (the players) Forestville will always be here and it's not going to leave the map. They need to go out and experience life."
When the time comes for Dugan to step down as coach of the volleyball team, he noted he hopes to give it to a former player.
Until then, he will continue to teach his athletes lessons on the court which they can use later in life. '
