After much reflection, Alan Dickson has made a decision he’s confident he can live with.
Dickson, 61, who last February began a battle against prostate cancer, has decided to return for his 12th season as head coach of the Monroe High School girls basketball team. Following several months of increasingly positive test results, Dickson said Monday he’s ready to lead his Bearcats back onto the court this winter.
Last month Dickson received news that his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, a cancer indicator, fell to 3.4 – a significant drop from the 7.3 it was at in June. The positive test results encouraged Dickson to come back, but he consulted with his family, particularly his wife, Chris, before deciding to return.
“We both feel comfortable with me trying it and seeing how it goes,” said Alan Dickson, who has led Monroe to seven state tournament appearances. “I feel so good, it doesn’t make sense to not try it.”
The stress of running a high school program can adversely affect the health of even the healthiest coaches, but Dickson said he takes a relaxed approach and plans to delegate more responsibility to his experienced staff.
“Winning and losing (have) never caused me that much stress,” Dickson said. “Once (the game) is over, I let it go.”
The passion for basketball still courses through Dickson’s veins, but his fight with cancer has also made him appreciate the other joys in his life – namely, his wife, six children and 15 grandchildren.
“It’s opened my eyes to a lot of things,” he said. ” … I’m kind of taking a new direction with my life, a new perspective. I’m trying to balance things a little more.”
Dickson said he briefly considered taking a leave of absence. He expects to maintain his improving health, but if coaching ever begins to take a harmful toll, he will walk away.
“I love the X’s and O’s and I love the game,” Dickson said. “It will probably always be with me, but I’m not going to do anything that’s going to cause me health issues.
“If it works out, great. If not, I’ll make the decision. We’re going to watch it closely. I have a lot of hope and faith.”
He’s also inspiring others. In the past few months, Dickson said he has enjoyed speaking to (or sharing e-mail correspondence with) about 30 men who are fighting prostate cancer.
As of Monday evening, Dickson hadn’t officially told his team about his return, but he said most of the Bearcats probably assumed he would come back. Many players have called to check on him.
“They’re very excited that I’m feeling better,” Dickson said.
As of Monday afternoon, Monroe athletic director Matt Ishler wasn’t completely sure if Dickson would return – the coach still needs to sign his one-year contract – but Ishler had high hopes.
“I expect him to return,” Ishler said, “and we’re happy about that. … I’m sure the team is excited that he’ll be back again.”
Bellevue surges in national poll: Fresh off its regionally televised victory over Long Beach Poly (Calif.), the Bellevue High football team jumped a whopping 12 spots in this week’s National Prep Football Poll. Bellevue (2-0) rose to No. 5 in the rankings after throttling then-No. 6 Poly 30-16 Friday night at Qwest Field in Seattle. Poly (1-1) fell to No. 11. California’s Mission Viejo (3-0) continues to top the poll.
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