After almost two decades of coaching at Wayland High School, Wayland boys basketball coach Dennis Doherty announced that he will be stepping down, leaving a lasting impact on the Wayland basketball community.

If you’ve ever dribbled a basketball in Wayland, then you know who Doherty is. From leading the town’s varsity high school team to hosting basketball camps for young “Friday night hoopers,” Doherty shared his love for the game with everyone.

Now, Doherty will be transitioning from the sidelines as a coach to the stands as a father.

“I have two kids of my own at Holliston High School—my daughter is a senior, [and] my son is a 10th grader,” Doherty said. “I knew once they got to high school that it was going to get challenging to continue coaching here, and I really felt like I hung on as long as I could. I just kind of felt like it was time.”

Doherty, who was a former Wayland boys varsity basketball player, began his coaching career in the colors maroon and white, as the head coach of Weston High School. He coached there for five years before returning to his alma mater.

“When I came to Wayland, [there] was a group of very talented players,” Doherty said. “One of my primary goals when I started here was to provide some continuity in the program [and] some stability, not just [by] coaching at the high school level, but also [by] creating youth programs in the town.”

Doherty’s 17-year campaign at Wayland has been distinguished by playoff runs, packed Friday night crowds in the dome and countless memories from the boys who called him ‘Coach.’ Doherty coached nearly 400 games at WHS and brought passion every time his team took the court. Whether it was the first quarter, or the game’s final minute, Doherty rarely sat. Instead, he’d be on his feet calling out plays or encouraging strong defense.

“I think that it was memorable for me to see [Doherty’s] excitement and dedication to the team,” Athletic Director Heath Rollins said. “He was jumping up and down on the sidelines. He’s a pretty reserved guy, [but] the excitement of winning those games and seeing him bouncing around is going to stay with me forever.”

Doherty’s impact on the Wayland community goes beyond the dome. He has led basketball camps in the town for many years, and he created a “Friday night hoops” program for youth basketball players. At these camps, former or current WHS players assist Doherty in coaching.

“His camps do a lot for Wayland and the community,” former WHS basketball player Noah Lee said. “I think that he builds mentorship by having his current players coach the next generation of athletes coming through Wayland. It’s really amazing because it gives those younger kids someone to look up to and then when [they become those] high school players playing for him [they are] able to mentor those younger players. It’s all kind of full circle.”

Not only did Doherty guide the basketball team for many years, but he will also continue to guide many students at the high school. Doherty is a guidance counselor at WHS, and will continue his role as one even after his resignation as a coach. Doherty said he has enjoyed getting to know many of his players off the court as a guidance counselor. He added that he has cherished continuing relationships with former campers who chose not to pursue basketball in high school.

Lee, along with 2020 graduate Jack Melvin, were both on the team for the 2019-2020 season, arguably one of the best basketball seasons for Wayland in the 21st century. In that season, Wayland won the Central Division II Championship and made it to the state semifinals. Melvin credits Doherty for many wonderful memories and life lessons.

“[Doherty] was pretty much family,” Melvin said. “He introduced me to basketball in a sense. When we won the state sectionals, we both celebrated and had a huge hug, and it was just like 10 years of basketball together, culminating into one of the biggest wins in Wayland basketball history.”

Doherty knows all about Wayland basketball history as he was the team’s point guard when the team won its last state championship in 1991. Doherty, a junior, helped lead Wayland over Holyoke Catholic. That team was coached by Joe Porrell, a legend at WHS who “was tough on us and challenged us because he cared for us,” Doherty said in a 2020 article in the MetroWest Daily News. Many players who played for Doherty would say the same about their coach.

“Coach always pushed us to be our best,” junior basketball player Cooper McFarlane said. “He had a belief that everybody in the program could play to their potential.”

Doherty’s energy along the sideline is something that will always be remembered. Though he was in charge of the people on the bench, he would never be seen sitting on the bench.

“When we won the state quarterfinal game, there’s a video of him after the game jumping up and down and then running to the crowd and giving them huge fist bumps,” Lee said. “Seeing that out of your coach brings a lot of fun to the team, he definitely knew what it was like to be a player and always tried to bring that fun energy.”

Some of the current players were shocked to learn of Doherty stepping down, however, they have certainly respected and understood his decision. Doherty held a meeting with parents and players to share the news earlier this month.

“Doherty’s just a really nice person,” boys basketball senior Agastya Parulekar said. “We’ve had some pretty bad seasons for the past four or five years, and the fact that he [kept] showing up just shows that he really loves the game and loves playing with us.”

Doherty coached hundreds of players during his time at Wayland. Young players will remember the fun prizes he would give out for making shots at his camps and encouraging effort above all else.

“Coach Doherty’s been really an ambassador for WHS as a whole,” Rollins said. “From his playing days, he was a standout athlete here, he had a lot of success as a player, and then the opportunity to come back and coach here to share that experience with the kids.”

Doherty is moving from the sidelines to the stands where he will cheer on his son playing the game he helped grow in Wayland. His impact on Wayland Basketball can’t be overstated as a player, coach, mentor and camp organizer. While he won’t be on the sidelines this winter wearing his orange tie, there is certainly a deserved spot in the dome for him one day as a member of the Wayland Athletics Hall of Fame.

“I think between coaching outstanding young men, and getting the support that we got for so many years, those are some things that I’ll always treasure,” Doherty said. “They worked hard to improve, they competed well [and] they always represented Wayland with class and dignity, which I always held to the utmost importance.”

Doherty’s players have followed his lead, matching his emphasis on work rate, composure and excellence. Looking back on his years as a coach, Doherty is proud of every second.

“We’ve had some very successful teams through the years,” Doherty said. “And we’ve had some teams that have struggled, but I can honestly say, I’m proud of all 17 teams. They were all great young men.”