By: Jessica Cox, editor
2/4/2004

Giving his all and expecting nothing in return

Friends University men’s basketball coach Dale Faber tries to give his all and expect nothing in return. He teaches his players to do the same.

In his first season at Friends, Faber has taken a team that was 54-114 in the past six years to 8-3 this season.  He has brought in quality athletes, established team chemistry and moved the Falcons to second place in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. 

His motto appears to be working. 

“I would hope that they all believe and have seen it work that the more you give the more you get, but that’s not reason to give,” Faber said. 
 
The Wichita Eagle named Faber in the top 10 to watch in ’04 among sports figures.  Faber was credited for putting the Falcons on the right track and being the “latest collegiate basketball success story in the city.” 

“I asked the newspaper if I put on a Speedo, would they stop watching?” Faber said.  “Surely there had to be somebody more important to watch than myself.”

But Faber catches more than the media’s attention.  His flamboyant coaching antics have captured the eyes and ears of the Friends community.  His pacing, yelling and stomping are hard to miss.

During games, Friends students compete for prizes to see who can guess how many steps Faber takes in a half. 

Last game he walked -- 1,908 steps. 

“He has a lot of intensity,” junior forward Steve Rausch said.  “He knows when he can joke around and have fun.”
   
Senior guard Jamaal Jemmerson said Faber’s actions show his love and passion for the game and his desire to see the team succeed.

Lance McArthur, senior guard, agreed.  Faber’s energy and enthusiasm show in every aspect of his coaching, McArthur said. 

“He does a great job preparing us for the teams we play through scouting reports, which show us he really cares,” McArthur said.

“I think I’m not afraid to be myself, whatever that might be,” Faber said.  “I’m not concerned about over-working, and I always try to put the concerns of the school, our team and the players in front of almost all other things.”

In his 22-year career, Faber has coached a variety of athletes without leaving his hometown. 

Faber graduated from Bishop Carroll High School in 1976.  During his high school basketball career, Faber knew that he wanted to coach. 

“Everything I got involved in or tried to get involved in when I was around a team was when I was the most comfortable,” Faber recalled.

In 1982, he got his first coaching and teaching job at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Wichita.  He coached volleyball, basketball and track.  Then in 1984, he coached and taught physical education at St. Francis Catholic School before taking on the head coaching position at his alma mater, Bishop Carroll.

Faber spent 13 years as the head boys basketball coach at Carroll.  His took his team to state, placing third, and left in 1999 to be an assistant coach at Wichita State University for one year.

“I have been very fortunate to be able to coach at all of the levels I have and not had to move my family around like most coaches,” Faber said. 

But coaching, as with any other profession, comes with ups and downs. 

Faber is involved in more than his players’ lives on the court.  He is amazed at what players can get into off the court -- everything from personal issues to attending class and grades. Faber has heard it all. 

For some players he is not just a coach; he is a mentor. 

“I try to help them not to take the easy road because it was the easy road that got them where they are at,” Faber said.  “Every situation you have to adapt to and tinker with but never give up the values you build upon.”

Being involved and giving advice are part of what Faber incorporates into his philosophy. He considers his players a part of his family and tries to show that whenever possible.

“I’ve got 20 more kids,” his wife, Stacy, said.  “It’s a family thing and that’s how we do it.”

Stacy and the couple’s two daughters, Kelsey and Lia, are constantly involved with the team.  Traveling to all the games and doing whatever extra needs to be done are how they help support their husband, dad and the team.

“This team has been the best one yet,” Lia said.  “They are all fun and talk to you.”

The team’s turn-around this year stems from Faber’s efforts to give the team his all – both on and off the court.

McArthur, the senior guard, summed it up: “When you can tell the coach cares about you, it makes the team care to succeed.”