OVER THE past four years Tivoli All-Stars have accomplished what most sport teams never will.
They have won four consecutive championships in the National Basketball League (NBL) and are on course to winning their fifth. This is a rare and unprecedented task in the sporting arena and the man behind Tivoli's success is their coach, Dennis 'Den-Den' Hutchinson.
He is a product of the vibrant community which is a mainstay in almost every sport. Hutchinson played for the national football team between 1976-77 and has been using the mechanics of both football and basketball to teach youths in his community and his alma maters. He is a past student of Tivoli Gardens High and Clarendon College where he applies his coaching skills in football.
Although he has had more success as a basketball coach, Hutchinson dreams of one day leading the Reggae Boyz.
In an exclusive One-on-One interview, The Gleaner learns about the secret behind Tivoli's success and how Hutchinson shares his passion for both games.
QUESTION: What has been the formula for Tivoli's success?
DENNIS HUTCHINSON: In hindsight we made the commitment and discipline and we had a tremendous amount of that. Without the commitment you can never succeed. If you have the ability but is not committed enough you won't get too far.
Q: How many players from Tivoli All-Stars have received scholarships under your tutelage?
DH: Five players. Ramon Gayle, Richard Andrews and David Martin in 2003 and Oneil Morgan and Leighton Meeks in 2002.
Q: Your team is ranked second behind Blazing Panthers in the NBL, how do you feel about your chances of winning your fifth straight title?
DH: Everything is continuing on the same path. Consistency is the key and that's what we really need. We are always going to challenge for the title and what we lack in technical skill we make up for it from a physical standpoint.
Q: For the past two years you've lost your best players to scholarships, how have you been able to replenish the strength of your team to regain the title?
DH: Whenever we get new recruits we introduce them to our system of play which is running and gunning in the open court. After we lost David Martin and Richard Andrews we got Levar Henry at the guard position, who is giving us good numbers and we also have Paul Opliphant to stabilise the team.
Q: Which of the four championships means the most to you?
DH: I would have to say the second title. In the second we had everybody functioning and giving a stalwart performance.
Q: Have you noticed any technical similarities between football and basketball?
DH: In terms of the mechanics there are similarities, especially when you're moving the ball from the offence to the defence.
Q: Which sport do you prefer coaching?
DH: I love both of them but I've had more success as a coach in basketball than football. I've never been blessed to have a really talented squad, I had to build people. I coached Greenwhich Town in Major League and Denham Town in Manning Cup and I had to build the teams. And it's a blessing because I get to give back to the youths.
Q: What is the next major step for you as a coach?
DH: Not to discard basketball but I want to put more focus on football. It was my first love and I would love to go further and even coach the national side.
Q: What's your take on the changes the NBL (formerly Divison 1) have undergone?
DH: Firstly I have to commend the sponsors (KFC and Cable & Wireless); they did a lot for basketball. However, more minds are needed to bring about a bigger market for basketball. For too long we've been having just a handful of people coming to the games. I believe the Jamaica Basketball Association needs to do more to get more people out.
- LeVaughn Flynn
