Lou Dawkins

If you were to carve a Mount Rushmore of
Saginaw Basketball, Lou Dawkins would be
among those enshrined in granite. He was a fantastic
player in his own right but his influence on a generation of basketball
players can not be underscored enough. His work at Saginaw High and
around the city of Saginaw laid the foundation for many players to have an
opportunity to get to the level that Dawkins achieved.
Lou Dawkins was born in Saginaw and attended Saginaw High School.
During his years as a high schooler from 1986-89, he learned about the
game and life from legendary Saginaw figure Coach Marshall Thomas.
During those years in the Black and Gold, the 6’5” forward scored over
1,000 points and was named First Team All-Saginaw Valley League in both
his junior and senior season. During that final high school year in 1989, he
was named Saginaw Valley League MVP and First Team All-State. During
a game that season, he tied the single game scoring record of another
Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Ernie Thompson. He finished
sixth in Mr. Basketball voting in Michigan. Those accomplishments led to a
scholarship at the University of Tulsa to play for another legendary coach in
Coach Tubby Smith.
While at Tulsa, he had a large role over the course of 122 career games.
His most impressive season was his senior year. For the 1993-94 season he
was named Team Captain and averaged 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds. Also, he
had 53 steals and 138 assists. For his efforts he was named the Missouri
Valley Defensive Player of the Year. Once March Madness rolled around
he led the squad to the Sweet 16. During a big win over Oklahoma State
in the tournament, he nailed a three point shot from the corner that is the
most famous shot in Tulsa basketball history. Lou graduated and earned
his degree in health, physical education, and recreation. He tried out for the
Phoenix Suns and Detroit Pistons but it didn’t work out so he came back
home to Saginaw.
Dawkins began his coaching career after finishing his playing days. A move
back to Saginaw gave him an opportunity to coach at his alma mater. With
a philosophy of strong defense, a family atmosphere, and some freedom to
create off the dribble he started as an assistant. Lou worked his way up
to head coach when Marshall Thomas retired. During the 2007 and 2008
seasons, he guided the Trojans to back-to-back MHSAA Class A Basketball
State Championships. In 2007, Lou was named the AP National High School
Coach of the Year in basketball. Dawkins coached at Saginaw High for 13
seasons total and seven as varsity boys coach. During his time with Saginaw
High, they went 149 – 28. Lou left Saginaw to become an assistant coach
at Northern Illinois University and later at Cleveland State. Currently, Lou
Dawkins coaches at Muskogee High School in Oklahoma. He is married to
Latricia and they have five children; Hailee, Mario, Christian, Elijah, with
son Dorian waiting for them in heaven.