Coach Dee reminisces about his 2010 championship run
It took 7 years for Coach Dee, who has coached at the college, semi-pro and high school level, to taste the sweet victory of winning an EBC title at Rucker Park. In 2010, he led Team Certified, who was sponsored by Jordan Brand, to the chip and the squad lived up to its name.
“We wanted everyone to know we were certified to play in such a prestigious league as the EBC at Rucker Park,” Coach Dee explained.
Certified went 6-1 that season, relying heavily on their top guns, Kenny Satterrfield, who Dee called the quarterback of their team, guard Brian Laing out of Seton Hall and “the best big man in New York” Kavon Lytch. It also helped when Dee was able to lure Milwaukee Buck point guard and rising star at the time, , to fill the point guard slot.
“The chemistry on my team that year was great,” Dee mentioned. “I remember I had two pros and other overseas players so all I had to do was put them in the right position to win and be successful and I did that.”
It also helped that three of Dee’s players were on the Albany Legends, a CBA squad that won the championship that year as well. He was their assistant coach.
There was a point, though, in Certified’s semifinal matchup against the Bingo All Stars, coached by the legendary Coach Bingo, that Dee didn’t think his team would make it to the final round- down by 20 points going into the fourth quarter.
“I felt like it was me against the world,” Dee said. “I remember saying to myself, ‘if I don’t win this game, I am done here. No one will ever play for me again.'”
Then Satterfield, who was later named the MVP, came to the rescue, hitting consecutive three pointers and shooting 
Certified to the championship game. There Certified’s legitimacy was tested once again.
They met the undefeated Team 914 at the chip, who was considered the best team in New York street ball that year.
“The odds were against us but we got the lead and never looked back,” Dee remembered.
“The atmosphere was crazy and of course it was standing room only. It was like Madison Square Garden.”
The victory meant much more than just a simple win for Coach Dee. There is a common phrase used around the EBC that if you can coach at Rucker you can coach anywhere. That is why success and especially a championship at Rucker means respect and legitimacy in Dee’s eyes.
“There are teams who have been playing in the EBC for 20 years who have never tasted the glory of a championship or even close,” Dee said. “I am in an elite group which I am very proud of. I grew a lot more as a coach just that one day in the lights.”
