A Retirement Without Regret: Swan River's Duane Whyte

Written byTwyla Machan

“The impossible takes a little longer.” – Desmond Whyte

For nearly 40 incredible years, Swan River resident Duane Whyte has been the coach of the SVRSS senior boys’ basketball squad, but the energetic coach has called a time out and ‘Whitey’ has officially retired. At least for now.

As an immigrant to Canada from Ireland, the father Whyte used to say the impossible takes a little longer. It’s a phrase the youngest of three boys took to heart.

And while none of his siblings played basketball, Whyte found the game exciting and fun. And in high school –at the then Dauphin Collegiate Technical Institute – he joined the squad and played for five years.

Duane Whyte pictured in the summer of 2007, the year he was inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame.

Little did he know, it would be Larry McDougall’s coaching that would eventually be reflected in his.

“Larry was a nice guy, he was positive and encouraging and hopefully I learned part of that from him,” Whyte has said. “He was always calm and it took me a long time to get calm.”

And in the days of Whyte shooting hoops, his competition remember him being a star.

“I actually played high school basketball against Duane,” said SVRSS Principal Henry Barkowski, noting back then he played for the Swan River Collegiate Institute, while Whyte played for Dauphin. “I remember Duane being sort of the Tasmanian Devil out on the court. He was high energy, he was all over the place.”

After high school, Duane then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science and Biology degree at the University of Manitoba, before heading to Brandon University to gain his Teacher’s degree.

It was at Brandon University that Whyte would meet Gary Howard, the guy who would talk him into his first coaching gig, a little church basketball team before graduating in the spring of 1971.

Then shortly after in the fall of 1971, Whyte would move to the Valley looking for a teaching job. And after signing a contract with then Swan Valley School Division Superintendent John Kastrukoff, and walking out of the school division office, Walter Zukewich would stop Whyte.

“He said, ‘I see you have an interest in basketball,’” said Whyte of the encounter.

It was there he was asked to coach the boys’ high school squad. And it was that encounter that would see Whyte become the Valley’s Mr. Basketball for 39 years.

In those years Whyte was honoured numerous times, and with the passing of each year, the awards would become a little more prestigious.

But more importantly, looking through his body of work, it’s clear Whyte has made a difference to many in the basketball community. Whether it was a lesson learned or a moment which has made for some great laughs, everyone has a story about ‘Whitey’.

“Coach Whyte was a mentor of mine as well as a coach, he taught me about extended family and what it means to be a part of that with the basketball program,” said Troy McRae, who played under Whyte’s direction from 2001 to 2004. “I try to live my life by some of the things he has passed on to me.

“Like when we used to go on basketball trips, he would always preach to leave the place nicer than it was when we go there.”

For alumni Ryan Stewart, Whyte’s interest started before high school began.

“He started noticing me as a player back when I was in junior high, and he was always interested in my development as a player and as a person,” said Stewart. “He always cared about your performance on the court and off the court.”

Stewart went on to capture two national basketball titles with Providence College, and he said Whyte was always interested in how he was going.

“He’s a great coach and I think he is one of the reasons I went as far as I did in basketball,” he concluded.

Mark Gilchrist – who is currently coaching at Winnipeg’s West Kildonan – said Whyte was a coach of his from 1993 to 1996.

“He expects players and teams to be the best they can, whatever that is,” he said, noting Whyte always knew what they needed.

“Before one of our zone final games against Dauphin, Whyte called a meeting at lunch and he pulled out a TV and VCR onto the stage in the gym. We thought we were going to watch some game film or something. And it was actually him on a fishing show with Don Lamond when he was about 20 years younger. We spent 20 minutes laughing at how young he looked and that we were watching a fishing show before our biggest game of the year to that point.

“It was one of those things that we didn’t expect. And he would always put thought into the things we needed, and I think at that time we needed a good laugh.”

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Stan Struthers was also coached by Whyte in 1976-77.

“I was a guard on the basketball team,” he said, noting he never forgot one particular encounter where they failed to make provincials. “In the locker room after, Duane shook every player’s hand and said two or three very nice things about each player. “By the time he came to me, he shook my hand, and he shook my hand for quite a long time. Finally he said, ‘Stanley, you hustle, you hustle’. And I never forgot that. I really appreciated him making that extra effort.”

Swan River Collegate Institute 1974-75 yearbook photo, Whyte is pictured seventh from the left in the back row as coach Whyte.

Trevor Beals – who played for Whyte from 1982 to 1984, and is now coaching the Dauphin Clippers basketball squad – said Whyte taught him about the responsibilities of being a coach.

“We do laugh that a Dauphin boy is coaching Swan River and a Swan River boy is coaching Dauphin,” he said. “The main thing that I took from Coach is that our job as coaches is to make better young men through the vehicle of basketball. That it is not about wins or losses, it is about helping young men grow.”

Carey Lasuik, who played for Whyte from 1982 to 1984 as well, said Whyte had an obvious influence on his former career with the MHSAA for nearly 20 years.

“He instilled a passion in me for sport, a passion to be a leader, the importance of integrity, and the value of treating people with respect,” he said, noting his first coaching experience was as Whyte’s assistant in 1986-87. “I learned a lot from him about coaching basketball, but more importantly about developing the esteem of our young basketball players.”

And Scott Sparkman – the coach of the Beaver Brae Broncos in Kenora, Ont. said the wisdom Whyte has passed on hasn’t been forgotten.

“When he coaches he uses moments within the game as teachable moments which carry over in real life. I often can still hear his voice in my head,” he said, jokingly adding, “I am getting help for that.”

And former colleague Lew Taylor said the SVRSS basketball program is synonymous with Whyte’s name.

“When people think of Swan River they think of basketball and Duane Whyte,” he said. “He’s a good friend and colleague.”

Peer Don Thomson, of the Brandon Neelin Spartans, said he first met Whyte in 1981, and have been friends since.

“Duane has taught me the ‘life lesson’ of making sure that you surround yourself with great people,” he said. “Duane’s values are always set around the family and community. Duane has, as I have, two families, the first is our immediate family, and the second which is created through sport. And he taught me that making players’ shots count, is not near as important as the people who make them.”

Of course, the humble Whtye has been quick to note, this program has not just happened because of him.

“I never thought of it as my program. Our basketball program is huge. This year we have five coaches. How many parents have helped us out without us ever knowing about it?” he said. “The community support, and sponsors. Bus drivers. There are 400 to 500 names in this.

“And my family, if your family isn’t letting you do something, how do you do it? You don’t do it by yourself.”

But for this year’s SVRSS graduate Reg Kematch, it was Whyte’s encouragement that changed his life.

“He helped me quit smoking, quit drinking, quit chewing tobacco, and to be more responsible for myself,” he said. “Growing up I just always liked basketball. (And if it wasn’t for Whyte) I would probably be sitting at one of my buddies’ houses smoking a cigarettes or something. Definitely getting into trouble. It would be unfortunate.

“He has been a great mentor,” he continued. “He’s the kind that will tell you if you fall, to get back up, and try even harder. To try as hard as you can and never give up.

“I love the guy.”

And while Whyte said he’s not sure what the future holds with b

asketball for him, he knows he will always have his basketball family – whatever that should bring. “(I’ve had) lots of good memories,” concluded Whyte. “I don’t suspect they should end, should they?”

 

 

A list of Duane Whyte’s accomplishments from his 39 years of coaching basketball:

• 1986 Swan River Lions Sportsman of the Year.

• 1988-89, 1995, 2000, and 2001 Basketball Manitoba Coach of the Year.

• 1990-91 Parkland Sports Council Volunteer of the Year

• 1988 Certificate of Merit from former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. • Received two personal letters from former Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon congratulating him on his coaching efforts.

• In 1996 was awarded 25 year service award from Manitoba Basketball Coaching Association (MBCA).

• Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association (MHSAA) 1999 Recognition of Coaching Certificate.

• Tigers senior squad awarded 2001-02 Team Sportsmanship Award.

• 2002 MBCA special recognition award.

• 2005 International Peace Garden’s Legion Athletic Camp Coach of the Year.

• 2005 Swan Valley District Recreation Commission Volunteer of the Year.

• 2005 Brandon Sun Spartan Invitational Award for commitment to the game.

• 2006 MHSAA award for ‘not thinking about winning or losing, but about moulding young lives’.

• 2007 Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.

• 2007 Coaching Manitoba Excellence Award.

• 2008 Mike Spack Award for a life-long commitment to the game.

• And throughout his 39 years, he coached five squads to provincial championship titles, two to third place finishes, and three teams to the consolation.