Dematha Basketball Coach: The Journey to the Top

Mike Jones, Dematha Catholic High School’s basketball coach has taken the Stags to the top of the rankings. Here’s his story.

Introduction

Since taking over as Head Coach of the DeMatha High School varsity basketball team in 1997, Mike Jones has led the Stags to an incredible six National Championships cementing their reputation as one of the premier high school basketball programs in the country. In this article, Coach Jones chronicles his own journey to the top, from his humble beginnings growing up in inner-city Baltimore to his early years as a head coach trying to find his way. Along the way, he shares some of the lessons he’s learned about what it takes to build a winning team both on and off the court.

Early Life and Family

Morgan Wootten was born in 1938 in Hyattsville, Maryland, just outside of Washington D.C. He was the third of six children, all boys. His father, Charles, was a building inspector and his mother, Anna, was a homemaker. From an early age, Morgan showed an interest in sports and excelled at both baseball and basketball His father coached his Little League team and Morgan often played basketball in the driveway with his brothers. It was clear that he had a passion for both sports and competition.

At DeMatha Catholic high school Morgan played both baseball and basketball. He was a four-year starter on the Varsity Basketball team and helped lead the team to two undefeated seasons. He graduated from DeMatha in 1956 and then attended Chapel Hill on a full athletic scholarship

Despite his love for both sports, Morgan decided to focus on baseball while he was in college. He played for two years on the varsity team before he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1958.

High School Career

Maurice “Mo” Williams is a Dematha legend. He started coaching the varsity Basketball team in 1972 and led the team to an improbable string of victories, culminating in a National Championship in 1982. Williams retired from coaching in 2001, but he remains an active part of the Dematha community. In this article, we’ll take a look at his journey to becoming one of the most successful high school Basketball Coaches of all time.

Williams was born and raised in Washington, D.C. He played basketball at H.D. Woodson high school and then at Georgetown University After college, he returned to Woodson to teach and coach. He coached the Junior varsity team for two years before taking over the varsity squad in 1972.

In his first season as varsity coach, Williams led Dematha to a 28-1 record and a spot in the Maryland State Tournament The team lost in the semifinals, but Williams was named Coach of the Year by the Washington Post The following year, Dematha won the State Tournament and finished ranked #1 in the nation by USA Today

Dematha continued to dominate under Williams’ leadership, winning back-to-back national championships in 1981 and 1982. The team’s 81- game Winning Streak is still a national record. In total, Williams coached Dematha to nine Maryland State Championships and five national championships. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

Williams’ success as a coach can be attributed to his dedication to his players and his ability to instill discipline on and off the court. He demanded excellence from his players and held them accountable for their actions both on and off the court. Many of his former players have gone on to have successful careers in basketball, including NBA All-Stars Grant Hill and Adrian Dantley.

Mo Williams is a true Dematha legend who has made an indelible mark on the history of high school basketball

College Career

Stuart Bill was a four-year starter at point guard for Dematha HS in Hyattsville, MD. coaching records. He is the only player in school history to have his jersey (#12) retired. Bill also set the career record for assists (1,012) and steals (427). After Dematha, Bill played college basketball at American University from 1988-1992.

Professional Career

Jim Abromaitis began his Professional Basketball coaching career in 1977 as an Assistant Coach at the University of Maryland From there, he moved on to become the Head Coach at Catholic University, where he coached for four years. In 1985, he returned to Maryland as an assistant coach under legendary Head coach Lefty Driesell. After two years at Maryland, Abromaitis became the head coach at American University, where he coached for five seasons. In 1992, he returned to Catholic University as the head coach a position he held for four seasons. In 1996, Abromaitis was hired as the head coach at Dematha Catholic high school where he has coached for the past 21 years.

Coaching Career

After a successful playing career, Jones began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, Dematha Catholic High School in Maryland. He then spent two seasons as head coach at Mount Saint Joseph high school in Baltimore before returning to Dematha in 2001. In his 18 seasons at the helm of the Stags, Jones has compiled a record of 523-72 (.878), leading the team to 12 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championships and four mythical national championships.

Achievements

In his storied career, Morgan Wooten has achieved just about everything a coach could hope for.

He has won five national championships, been named National Coach of the Year five times, and been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In addition to his on-court success, Wooten is also known for his work as a mentor and educator. He has helped countless young men develop both as players and as people, and he continues to impact the lives of those he works with today.

Personal Life

Prior to becoming the head basketball coach at Dematha, Morgan Wooten was a star player on the school’s varsity team. He led the team to a undefeated season and a number one ranking in the nation. After graduation, Wooten served in the U.S. Air Force for two years before returning to Dematha to teach and coach. In his first year as head coach the Stags won the City Championship In his second year, they won the state championship And in his third year, they won the National Championship Wooten would go on to win five more national championships, making him one of the most successful coaches in college basketball history.

Media Appearances

coach Jones has been a part of several media appearances, interviews, and television programs. In 2012, he was featured on ESPN’s “BE LIKE MIKE” campaign. He has also been interviewed by the Washington Post, Washington Times, and WUSA9. In 2013, Coach Jones appeared on the Steve Harvey Show. He has also been a part of several TV commercials for Nike, Under Armour, and Spalding.

Legacy

Delonte West is in his first year as the head basketball coach at Dematha High School one of the most storied programs in the country. West, who played for the Stags from 1998 to 2002, is the first African American Head Coach in the school’s history.

West took over a program that was in a bit of disarray, with a talented but young team that had gone through two coaching changes in two years. He has instilled a disciplined, hard-working culture and has the team off to a great start, with a record of 12-3.

Dematha is known for producing some of the best basketball players in the country, and West is determined to add to that legacy. He knows what it takes to win at the highest levels, having won an NCAA championship with Maryland in 2002 and an NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008.

West is a man on a mission, and he looks forward to leading Dematha back to glory.