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Basketball Coach Gifts
PGC Basketball: Our History
Our History
There’s no better way to tell you how it all got started than to talk about the life and legacy of PGC’s founder, the legendary Dick DeVenzio. As a high school and college player (at Duke University), Dick was regarded as the prototypical “coach on the court.” In 10th grade, he was a varsity starter, averaging 20 points a game (even though he was only 5’6″ tall). The next year Dick grew to 5’9″ and averaged 30 points per game, and, in his senior year, he led Ambridge High School to an undefeated state championship. That team is still recognized as the best high school team ever to play in Pennsylvania. Dick was named as the best high-school point guard in America by Parade Magazine and went on to earn Academic All-American and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) all-star honors at Duke and to play and coach professionally in Europe and South America.
An English major and lover of literature, Dick authored five books during his lifetime—including STUFF! Good Players Should Know, praised as “the ultimate guide to playing the game the right way” by Larry Brown, the only coach ever to win both NCAA and NBA championships and a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Basketball Times (in an article published in 2003) said that STUFF is “esteemed by most players and coaches as a sacred text. It is the Rosetta Stone that unlocks the inner workings of how basketball must be played. Dr. James Naismith, as he relaxes alongside the Apostle Peter, is reading a copy of STUFF. It really is heavenly wisdom.”
Considered by many to be a basketball genius and a gifted writer, Dick’s books continue to influence basketball lovers all over the world and have been translated into several foreign languages.
Dick began running his own summer basketball camps as a college student and then continued to offer sessions every summer until his untimely death in 2001 at the age of 52. The program he was most proud of, however, was the nationally acclaimed Point Guard Basketball College. While Dick’s ingenuity, humor, and creativity will always be missed, the ideas and teaching methods that he created remain at the core of the PGC programs.
After Dick’s passing, his protégé, Dena Evans, picked up the mantle and single-handedly led all of the Point Guard College sessions for the next six years. Dena had been named the Best Point Guard in America as a senior at the University of Virginia, and was later recognized as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Silver Anniversary All-Star team. Geno Auriemma, the Basketball Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach from the University of Connecticut, said, “The first time I saw Dena play, I was amazed at how intelligent she was with and without the ball. Having the skills is one thing, and Dena had them all. But knowing how to use those skills is the key, and that’s what separated Dena from all the rest.”
After taking over for Dick DeVenzio, Dena traveled the length and breadth of the United States, presenting 13 or more Point Guard College programs each summer.
In her teaching, Dena remained faithful to the legacy that she had inherited from Coach DeVenzio, continuing to present the principles that she had learned from her mentor. Lindell Singleton, a former Texas high-school coach of the year, attended several Point Guard College sessions, and said, “I never met Dick DeVenzio in person, but I feel like I know him through his writings. I honor him because of his commitment to the game. He’s smiling now, knowing that his protégé, Dena Evans, is keeping the fire burning.”
By 2007, the demand for learning “The PGC Way” had grown to the point where Dena could no longer do it all on her own. She recruited another Dick DeVenzio protégé, Mano Watsa, to come on board. Mano had been named a two-time All-Canadian at the University of Waterloo, earned Academic All-Canadian honors, and capped off his career with his selection as the recipient of The Sports Network (TSN—Canada’s equivalent of ESPN) National Award in 1998 for combining excellence in athletics, academics, and community service.
Mano, who now serves as PGC’s president, was also mentored by Dick and, like Dena, is fully committed to carrying out Dick’s dedication to excellence and the championship principles that Coach DeVenzio taught.
In the 18 years since Dick DeVenzio started Point Guard Basketball College, many things have changed. Point Guard College is now simply known as PGC, and there are a team of 12 accomplished teachers leading nine (9) different PGC basketball courses in over 30 states and three (3) Canadian provinces. However, under the leadership of Dena Evans and Mano Watsa, the heart of Dick’s legacy is alive and well at PGC, and still remains—and will always remain—the same.
About the Author
Mano Watsa was the first Canadian athlete to ever attend Point Guard College. A terrific example of the impact that Dick DeVenzio had on so many players, Mano returned home to Canada from his PGC experience and saw his game transformed. He was subsequently selected as a two-time All-Canadian and earned Academic All-Canadian honors at the University of Waterloo. Mano capped off his university career with his selection as the recipient of The Sports Network (TSN—Canada’s equivalent of ESPN) Award in 1998 for combining excellence in athletics, academics, and community involvement.
Gifts For A Coach
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DII Sports decorative Kitchen Timer, Set of 3 $16.81 Add whimsy to your kitchen with DII’s Sports decorative Kitchen Timer Set of 3. 1 each Baseball, Basketball, Soccer ball. 60 minutes, spring-wound…. |
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Fathers Day Sports Giant Mug Big Dog I Only Watch Sports on Days That End in Y Football Baseball Golf Basketball $35.00 Brand New Super Big Dog Mug 30 Giant oz. Very Heavy Great Quality Discontinued by Big Dog Now Hard to Find SPORTS THEME MUG Says On The Front “I ONLY WATCH SPORTS ON DAYS THAT END IN “Y” Has a picture of Sports Balls Basketball-Football-baseball-golf-AND A TV REMOTE GREAT GIFT FOR DAD-brother-UNCLE-TEACHER-AND OR ANY SPORTS LOVER….. Hurry The Holidays Are Coming And I Have ONLY Only ………….. |
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Los Angeles Sparks – What Sparks You? – Metal Lunch Box – Measures 8x7x4 Approx Inches – Shows Minor Wear – Plastic Handle – Limited Edition – Collectible WNBA – Los Angeles Sparks – “What Sparks You?” – Basketball – Metal Lunch Box – Measures 8x7x4 Inches Approx – Shows Minor Wear From Use and Storage – Small paint scrapes and marks – Plastic Handle – Limited Edition – Collectible… |
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Basketball on Flames – 18W x 13H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $19.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Basketball on Flames – 24W x 18H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Coach Designing Play – 24W x 16H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
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Hoosiers (2-Disc Collector’s Edition) $5.00 THIS UPLIFTING CROWD-PLEASER FOLLOWS AN UNORTHODOX HIGH SCHOOLBASKETBALL COACH AND THE LOCAL DRUNK ON AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY ASTHEY LEAD THEIR UNDERDOG TEAM ALL THE WAY TO THE STATECHAMPIONSHIP…. |
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Black Magic $4.73 Discover the fascinating account of Black Magic, an inspirational story profiling the basketball players and coaches who forced dramatic social change through the brilliance and determination of their game. This groundbreaking film is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and jazz great Wynton Marsalis, with introductions from point guard Chris Paul and basketball icon “Dr. J” Julius Erving…. |
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MAGIC JOHNSON PRESENTS: The Fundamentals of Basketball; Comprehensive $28.95 The Fundamentals of Basketball is the most comprehensive basketball instructional video on the market. Packed with two hours of skills and drills this program will help you become a better ball player. Learn and practice with the game’s best including: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Diana Taurasi, Richard Hamilton, and Gary McKnight California’s legendary Hi… |
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6-PACK Thanks Coach! Clipboard SPORTS POWERCARD Mid-size (5×7) 6-PACK $11.99 PLAY STRONG® SPORTS POWERCARDS are an exciting way to express yourself and to encourage your coach, teammates, friends and family. A personal note on a POWERCARD will make a lasting and high-powered impact!… |