By RACHEL SALASKY
Staff Writer
Injuries no matter how big or small can take a player out of the game mentally and physically. It’s the player’s choice to keep their head in the game or to just sit back and watch.
Senior red shirt Chris Dorgler, 23, is one of those unique players who have maintained a strong mental game while his physical performance is on hold. Prior to his fifth season as a Golden Knight Men’s Basketball player, Dorgler tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing in the Capital District Basketball Association Summer League at Hudson Valley Community College. This isn’t Dorgler’s first experience having to sit out due to injuries.
“I red shirted freshman year because I hurt my back,” he said. According to the NCAA hardship waiver a student may be granted an additional year of play if a hardship or injury affects the players season.
Disappointed that he couldn’t help out the team this year on the court, Dorgler found a new way to impact them when he isn’t playing as a guard.He has begun to help his teammates in ways most players don’t do in their collegiate experience. He was unanimously selected as captain by his teammates, knowing he would not touch the court this season.
“I’m taking on more of a coaching role with a lot of the young guys since I have been around so long,” said Dorgler.
“Chris has always been a very cerebral player, he’s a guy that gets the most out of all his abilities,” said Coach Brian Beaury. Beaury and the other coaches have asked Dorgler to step up this year from the bench.
Junior guard Brodie Munson says Dorgler has earned that respect because he is always there for the team. Even with an injury he doesn’t miss practice or team events.
“He is the most respected member on our team,” said Munson. He has played with Dorgler since 2013 when he arrived at Saint Rose and has lived with him for the last two years.
This season Dorgler serves as the middleman between players and the coaches. At any game you will see Dorgler sitting next to Assistant Coach Mike Perno, listening and observing. According to Beaury, Dorgler relays the important information to the players without being told to. If he hears the coaches saying something needs to change Dorgler will inform the guys as their teammate to help them get done what needs to be done. Whether it is during a timeout or in the middle of play, fans can hear Dorgler on the bench just as much as any coach.
“Often times I believe the message is more powerful when it comes from your peer,” said Beaury.
Even though he is injured, Dorgler is a key player for the Golden Knights. The last three seasons he has seen playing time every game scoring 656 points in his total career at Saint Rose. The all-time leading scorer, Damon Reed, left the program with a total of 1,874 points in four seasons. Dorgler has one more season to catch up.
Before Dorgler excelled as a Golden Knight he played under what Coach Beaury calls “arguably the greatest basketball coaches of all time.” Jack Curran coached at Archbishop Molloy High School, in Floral Park, NY, for 55 years with 2,600 wins before he died at age 82.
“To play for two legends, in high school and in college, is something not many players get to experience. I think Coach Curran and Coach Beaury deserve a lot of the credit for the player and person I am now,” said Dorgler.
Former teammate Ernesto Vega had nothing but great memories of his three seasons with Dorgler.
“I played with a very good amount of talented individuals but Chris Dorgler was by far my favorite player to put on a Molloy uniform with, I think that speaks volumes, he said. Vega says his energy and drive on the court was contagious and Dorgler is “one of the top five most genuine people” he has ever met.
“He got along with everyone, that included teachers, students, and coaches. He exuded an amiable presence, you know, where you weren’t scared to talk to him, it came natural,” said Vega.
Pat Driscoll has been a manager of the team since he started at Saint Rose. He has seen Dorgler through his ups and downs with injuries.
Dorgler is currently completing an MBA in marketing at Saint Rose, while working at the not for profit United Way doing data entry. He says he never saw a career in coaching but this season has opened his eyes to his abilities as a coach.
Beaury is very confident in Dorgler’s abilities on the sidelines. “We’ve asked him to be a mentor, he’s a natural leader and I think will be a very good basketball coach some day. I give him a lot of credit for doing things the way he is doing them.”
“He’s doing such a great job with the younger guys, he’s a mentor to them. He helps a lot either way no matter if it’s his on court presence or off court presence, but with him on the bench it really helps the guys,” Driscoll said.
