Dean Scott of Barr-Reeve and Bill Lane of Jennings County are the 2024 IBCA Assistant Coaches of the Year. This is the seventh year that the IBCA has presented awards in this category.
All-time honorees – 2018, Roger Bowling, Union County boys. 2019, Clark Miles, Jeffersonville boys, and Danny Pierce boys, Crawfordsville. 2020, Jim Brothers, North Putnam girls, and J.R. Moffatt, Hamilton Heights boys. 2021, Jim Higdon, Edinburgh boys, and Hassan Abdullah, Penn girls; 2022, Ray Weatherford, Eastern (Pekin) boys, and Scott Reid, Crown Point girls; 2023, J.D. Miller, Connersville boys, and Stephanie Richie, Evansville Central girls; 2024, Dean Scott, Barr-Reeve boys, and Bill Lane, Jennings County girls.
Dean Scott, Barr-Reeve
Dean Scott has been an assistant coach in the Barr-Reeve boys’ basketball program for the past 21 seasons. He has been a fixture as a player or coach in southern Indiana basketball for twice that long.
Scott started his coaching career as an assistant coach for five seasons at North Central (Farmersburg). He then served as head coach at South Knox, his alma mater, for six seasons. After two seasons out of coaching, he hooked on as a Barr-Reeve assistant in 2003-04 and has been with the Vikings ever since. Thus, Scott has been named an IBCA Assistant Coach of the Year for 2024.
“Dean has the tremendous ability to use his vast experiences coaching the game, as a veteran coach, while at the same time relate to current players on a personal level,” Barr-Reeve head coach Josh Thompson said in nominating Scott. “Dean knows everyone of our players extremely well. He has coached and developed a relationship with many of their dads, uncles, older brothers, etc. When people think Barr-Reeve basketball, they think of Dean Scott and how he has been a stalwart coach for the Vikings.”
Scott has been a part of many successes during his time at Barr-Reeve. Those include Class A state championships in 2015 and 2021, four other State Finals appearances (2007, 2010, 2014 and 2019) and a 25-3 record in 2023-24. Equally important, Thompson said that every player who has put on the Barr-Reeve uniform over the past 21 seasons has the utmost respect for Scott.
“Dean epitomizes servant leadership plus modeling integrity and hard work to our players,” Thompson said. “While Dean is a tremendous coach, he is an even better teacher and human being. Dean is also there to support our students in a variety of ways.
“As a senior sponsor, he is busy helping with the concession stand at lower level and girls games. It is great to watch the rapport that he has with our seniors. He attends other events and volunteers to help at our cross-country invitationals. If the Vikings are competing, Dean is there to support our school and team.”
Barr-Reeve athletic director Aaron Ash concurred.
“Coach Scott consistently has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to the development and success of our student-athletes both on and off the court,” Ash said. “His passion for the game of basketball is infectious, and it is evident in the way he inspires our players to strive for excellence, both individually and as a team.
“One of Coach Scott’s greatest strengths is his ability to effectively communicate and connect with our student-athletes. He possesses a unique talent for motivating and empowering our players to reach their full potential while also instilling important values such as teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance.”
Principal Jeff Doyle said that Scott's unwavering commitment was a big part of the success of the Barr-Reeve teams.
“His passion for the sport, coupled with his strong work ethic, has been instrumental in fostering a positive and competitive atmosphere both on and off the court," Doyle said. "Whether devising strategic game plans, refining players’ skills through rigorous training sessions or providing invaluable mentorship, Mr. Scott consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the growth and well-being of our athletes.”
Doyle added that Scott possesses outstanding leadership qualities that command respect and admiration from players, fellow coaches and staff members alike. His ability to communicate effectively, motivate others and foster a cohesive team dynamic has been pivotal in Barr-Reeve’s achievements, Doyle said.
“Mr. Scott and the rise of Barr-Reeve from a local power to a state power go hand in hand,” the principal said. “He is an outstanding teacher and an even better person. He connects with students and is able to bring out the very best in all of them.”
A 1986 graduate of South Knox, Scott was an all-conference player in basketball and baseball for the Spartans. He matriculated to Oakland City University, again playing basketball and baseball for the Mighty Oaks while also earning a bachelor’s degree in math and physical education in 1990. He also earned a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University in 1994.
Scott began his career in education as a math teacher, assistant boys’ basketball to Glen Andrew and varsity baseball coach at North Central (Farmersburg) from 1990-95. He then returned to South Knox as a teacher and coach, guiding the Spartans to three winning efforts and a 50-79 record over six seasons.
He remained at South Knox as a math teacher for 10 more years, commuting after school from Vincennes to Montgomery from 2003 to 2011. He then moved to Barr-Reeve as math teacher, where he is completing his 13th year. Scott assisted Bryan Hughes at Barr-Reeve for 15 seasons, and he just completed his sixth season working with Thompson.
Scott and his wife, Gina, have two adult children – Samantha and William. They also have one grandson, Landan.
Bill Lane, Jennings County
Once a Panther, always a Panther.
Except for four years away to attend Ball State University, that Panther line aptly describes Bill Lane, a fixture in the Jennings County athletic program as an athlete and coach for nearly all of the past 35 years.
Lane has coached basketball throughout his 27-year tenure as a teacher at the school, most recently as a girls’ basketball assistant to Kristi Sigler for the past seven seasons. Thus, Lane has been selected an IBCA Assistant Coach of the Year for 2024.
“Bill impacts those around him with his selflessness and his drive to succeed,” Sigler said. “He leads by example as a tireless worker, and his players know that he always will be there for them. This has been most recently evident as players from a group that he coached from third grade through their senior year continues to come back and visit with him each time any one of them has an opportunity.”
A 1993 Jennings County graduate, Lane was a senior on a sectional championship basketball team while playing for coach Kendall Wildey. He went onto Ball State, earning a bachelor’s degree in education in 1997, then returning to Jennings County for a career as a teacher and coach.
His basketball coaching career started as a boys’ assistant from 1997-2001, three seasons for Wildey and one season for George Grubbs. Lane then assisted the girls’ basketball program in seven of the next eight seasons, three for Joe Granecki, one for Bob Howe and three for Jason Longmeier. Lane moved back to the boys’ program from 2009-15, one season with Dean Foster, two with Howe, one with Mike Broughton and two with Joe Hartwell.
Lane then was a middle-school girls’ head coach for two seasons before joining Sigler, a 1995 Jennings County graduate herself, and the girls’ high school staff for the past seven seasons.
“Bill unselfishly has given 27 years back to our school and community as he has coached multiple sports throughout his time at Jennings County,” Sigler said, noting he also was girls’ soccer varsity coach for 11 seasons, boys’ soccer varsity coach for two seasons and this spring will be an assistant baseball coach. “Bill is a person of character and is committed to doing things correctly. His work ethic and loyalty are unmatched, and he has played a vital role in the success of our program.”
Beyond his role on the sidelines, Lane also is in his 27th year as a social studies teacher. He is considered a remarkable educator who has made a difference on the court, on the field and in the classroom.
“He has made a lasting impact,” Sigler said.
Lane and his wife, Elizabeth, are parents to two children – Morgan, 20, and Cooper, 15.
