Sam Dalman

Sam Dalman, a 1983 DeWitt graduate, earned ten varsity letters in cross country, basketball, tennis, and baseball and later coached for more than 15 seasons in two of these sports. He was a two-time co-captain on cross country teams that won a Capital Circuit Championship, a Class C Regional Championship, and had two top ten finishes in the state meet. On the basketball court, Dalman stood just over five feet tall, weighed less than 120 pounds, and was known for his high energy and competitiveness. His teams won Class C District Championships in 1981 and 1983. As a junior, he averaged 14 points, six assists, and five steals per game and was named Second Team All-League and All-Clinton County. As a senior co-captain, Dalman helped lead the Panthers to a 20-4 record and a first place tie in the Capital Circuit. He averaged 15.6 points per game on his way to earning First Team All-League and All-Area honors. He was named Honorable Mention All-State by the Associated Press. In baseball, his teams won a Capital Circuit title, two Class C District Championships, a Class C Regional Championship, and the 1983 Class C State Championship. He was selected Second Team All-League as a senior. Dalman earned DeWitt’s Male Athlete of the Year award in 1983. During his tenure as an assistant coach for the boys and girls varsity basketball teams, where he motivated players to exceed their own expectations, DeWitt won eight league championships, ten district championships, five regional championships and advanced to four Class B Final Fours. Dalman served in the Michigan Army National Guard for 26 years before retiring as a Colonel in 2010.