Legendary remains a father figure at Dunbar

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Muggsy Bogues was in for a challenge when he was named head coach of the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting in 2005, but he also knew who he could call for advice on how to handle his move from the court to the sideline.

It wasn’t to Wes Unseld, Allan Bristow, P.J. Carlesimo or Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens — the four coaches he played under during his 14 seasons in the NBA. Instead, the shortest player in league history phoned the man who had played the biggest role in his career: Bob Wade, his high school coach.

Wade coached Bogues in the early 1980s at Dunbar High, where Bogues helped lead the team to a mythical national title in 1983.

“The way he was able to mange us and take a bunch of egotistic guys and get us to work well together was amazing,” said Bogues, who was with the Sting until it folded before the 2007 season. “He was there for us off the court and acted as a father figure. Once I got that opportunity to coach, I called him on it to get his input on what it was like to be on the other side of the court.”

Tyrone Curtis “Muggsy” Bogues remained close to Wade, as he was among a crowd of 500 of Wade’s family, friends and former players who attended a party in the legendary coach’s honor to raise funds for Dunbar’s athletic program.

Wade is the director of athletics for Baltimore City public high schools, but is  known more for being one of the greatest coaches in the city’s history. Wade, 63, coached the Poets from 1976-86, amassing a 341-25 record. His former players included Bogues, Reggie Lewis, David Wingate and Reggie Williams, who all went on to play in the NBA.

“Basketball was a national pastime in the projects,” Wade, who graduated from Dunbar in 1963 before playing football at Morgan State, said. “We were then able to take the tradition at Dunbar and move it to a national level. Today, the tradition just keeps going.”

Wade, who was a defensive back in the NFL from 1968-70, also is known as the former University of Maryland men’s basketball coach who left the Terrapins on probation after numerous NCAA violations were discovered during his three-year tenure from 1986-89. 

“Unfortunately it happened,” said Wade, adding he wasn’t put in a place to succeed. “When the opportunity came about I had to take advantage of it. It was a learning experience. I feel like I had gotten more administrative support, things might have been different.”

Wade’s departure from Maryland ignited years of bitterness between Baltimore City, which was home to many of the state’s best players, and the university. The Terrapins didn’t land a major player from Baltimore City until former Poet Keith Booth in 1993.

Pete Pompey, who replaced Wade at Dunbar, said his long-time friend used his role as a coach to steer teenagers toward college, not the streets.

“Bob is a serious person and he’s a disciplinarian who cares about children,” said Pompey, who later went on to coach football and basketball at Edmondson before retiring four years ago. “He’s not going to let them go down the wrong path.”

Wade said he misses his days on the sideline, but is satisfied watching his former athletes, including his son Daryl, who coaches boys basketball at Mervo, take over where he left off.

“My outlet now is to watch my former athletes coach and them then leaning on me for advice,” Wade said. “Now, I’m a mentor to the mentors.”

rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com

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