30 years later; Member of state championship team now leading the boys squad at his alma mater

In 1990, Ted Van Dussen was a member of a Houston Hawks squad that earned a boys basketball state title for the first time in school history. Now, 30 years later, Van Dussen is the head coach for his alma mater.

“It’s been great, awesome to be back in the school, teaching in the school, finally getting the chance to be the head coach of the team I played for,” Van Dussen said.

During his four years as a Houston High School student-athlete, Van Dussen was a member of two state championship teams and part of a program that advanced to the 3A state title game in three straight seasons. The Hawks won it all in 1990 and 1991, and were the runner-up in 1989. Chuck Martin was the head coach of the Hawks during that era. Martin, who is currently at the helm of the East Anchorage boys program, is one of the winningest varsity coaches in Valley prep basketball history. Martin also served as the head coach at Colony, Wasilla and Palmer. Van Dussen had the chance to serve as an assistant during Martin’s time at Palmer.

“To have the opportunity to see what I can learn from him helped my comp teams and now my high school team is great,” Van Dussen said. “Anything tied to Chuck is a professional, well done experience.”

Van Dussen said he has taken a great deal from what he learned from Martin as a player and an assistant coach and has applied that in his first year leading the Houston boys program.

“Everything right down to how he interacts with the kids. Being inspiring having team dinners,” Van Dussen said. “Not just the basketball season, but developing relationships with these kids.”

Van Dussen said he has also followed Martin’s style of play on the floor.

“Really high-paced, run and gun,” Van Dussen said. “That’s what I like to play too.”

Van Dussen has also adopted Martin’s style of coaching on the defensive end.

“His defensive strategy I learned as a high school player and working with him at Palmer I’ve continued to carry on here at Houston,” Van Dussen said.

Van Dussen said he is still very close with his former teammates at Houston. A group of former Hawks from his era even played men’s league basketball together.

Van Dussen said he had thought about the opportunity to coach at his alma mater, and felt the timing was right this year. He said Houston is a young squad, and the Hawks are eager to build for the future. The Hawks have only three upperclassmen on the varsity roster, two seniors and a junior, but Van Dussen said there is excitement around the team.

“Our younger group is pretty solid. We’re excited for the next several years for sure,” Van Dussen said.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.