Dryden’s Zack LeViere named ESPN Ithaca’s Coach of the Year

On June 18, Dryden boys basketball head coach Zack LeViere was named ESPN Ithaca’s Coach of the Year in a Boys Sport during the 12th annual Night of Champions awards ceremony. In his seventh season at the helm, LeViere guided the Lions to their best-ever campaign.

A strong regular season with a 16-3 record saw Dryden recapture the IAC North Large Division title, its first since 2022. The Lions made the extremely brief trip—all of one mile—to Tompkins Cortland Community College for the IAC championship, where they took down Elmira-Notre Dame in a 72-69 thriller to win their first IAC crown since 1986.

The good times kept rolling in the Section IV Class B tournament. Entering as the top seed, the Lions passed their first test with flying colors: a 55-40 win over Chenango Forks in the semifinals.

That set up a date with the defending champions Waverly at the Visions Veterans Memorial Arena. In a captivating back-and-forth affair where neither team led by more than six points, Dryden had the ball with 45 seconds remaining and the game tied at 48-48. Danny Murphy bled some clock and waited for his moment to pounce. A high screen from Xander Scott freed up Murphy to drive down the lane and banked in his shot to put the Lions in front with 10.5 seconds remaining. Scott intercepted the ensuing inbound and sank a free throw to seal the deal on the Lions’ first-ever Section IV title.

The victory also secured Dryden’s place in the New York State Tournament for the very first time. Their historic season would come to an end in regionals against the eventual state runner-up Woodlands, as the Lions finished with a 19-4 record, a pair of postseason titles, and countless lasting memories.

Heading into this season, Dryden adopted the motto “make history,” which they got from renowned college basketball coach Bruce Pearl. T-shirts that adorned the slogan were on full display all year long, including on that unforgettable afternoon down in Binghamton. They set their goal high in pursuit of winning IACs and sectionals. Come March? Mission accomplished.

“It was just amazing to see the team and the players have this goal, and then to see the process throughout the years, throughout the season, as players worked year after year to achieve that goal, and then to see it all you know happen this year was just amazing,” said LeViere.

If it was any group that was going to take this program to new heights, it was this one. The core four of seniors—Murphy, Scott, Luke Eshelman, and Peter Nydam—have played with each other since fourth grade. Throw in the junior duo of Jay and Melo Miles, and they have undoubtedly borne the fruit of their labors.

“You sometimes put in a ton of work, and then you still don’t achieve that goal that you set for yourself,” LeViere said. “But having that patience to keep coming back year after year, practice after practice, and trusting that the process will play itself out, over time you’ll see the results. It’s been amazing to reflect back now several months after winning that championship and put it into perspective.”

This year’s triumphs quite literally hit home for LeViere. He graduated from Dryden in 2010 and played for the very program he now spearheads. He knows firsthand how significant this season’s success was to a community so passionate about basketball and athletics as a whole.

“It is a supportive, close-knit community,” LeViere said. “You drive around town and see the ‘#LionPride’ signs around town in people’s yards, and not just people that have kids that are playing sports, but teachers and people in the community who enjoy coming to the games and supporting their community, supporting their local high school athletes, or even younger athletes. It’s a community that makes you feel welcomed and supported, and it’s just a special place.”

While Murphy’s game-winning shot and the celebrations that soon followed the Lions’ inaugural sectional victory will live long in the memory of LeViere, he’ll also remember this year’s team for their many outstanding traits.

“It was a group of high character, responsible, hard-working, caring kids that I had the privilege to coach and be a part of their education,” LeViere said. “I enjoyed going to practice every single day, which I think is just a huge compliment to a group of kids. When the basketball season goes for about four months, you’re with the same group of people for six days a week through the dark and cold months of the year. I look forward every day to going into practice and spending time with my players and coaches and team. I think that’s probably the thing over the years that will stick out the most is just how much I enjoyed spending time with this group.”

LeViere’s award came with a $750 scholarship to give to a senior student-athlete at Dryden on behalf of Guthrie. He selected Peter Nydam, who will be continuing his basketball career at SUNY New Paltz.