This Friday’s final regular season games at Russellville High School will feature two special events—the traditional Senior Night and a first, Roger Dale Night. It also could be an historic evening in Panther Basketball coaching.
Roger Dale Night is designed to honor long-time Lady Panther assistant coach Roger Dale Daniel, who recently retired after working for Russellville Parks and Recreation for 27 years.
Daniel played basketball on Coach Mickey Meguiar’s district champion teams at RHS in the mid-70s.
For many years Roger Dale coached youth league football and basketball teams. They almost always won championships and many of the players went on to play for the middle school and high school teams.
In the early 2000s, he became assistant coach on the Russellville girls basketball team. He has assisted head coaches Dedra Adler, Justin McLellan and Calvin Head. Two of the excellent players he helped coach have been his daughters, Rachea and Nakia. He also has coached middle school football for many years.
In 2016, he suffered a setback when he was diagnosed with cancer. He successfully fought the cancer and is in full remission.
Coach Head, who is also athletic director, has planned the evening. Coach Daniel will be honored at halftime with Senior Night scheduled between games.
He says, “We invite all former players, friends, and family members of Coach Roger Dale Daniel to come to the game that night. Coach Roger has been a pillar for the Russellville Community and the RHS athletic department. We would like to show our appreciation to Coach Roger and family for all of his hard work and dedication to our school and community.”
Phil Todd's final home game?
In addition to all this, Phil Todd, the winningest coach in Russellville basketball history, may be coaching his last game at the gym where he starred as a high school player. Todd, who is in his second stint as the Panther coach, has been inducted into the Russellville Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame twice, first as a player and then as a coach. The All A Classic radio network observed in January that Todd is expected to retire from coaching after this season.
The Lady Panthers will play Dawson Springs Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. The Panthers will go against South Warren in the nightcap. The last time the Spartans’ coach, Nelson Cundiff, was at Jim Young Gymnasium, he was inducted in the Russellville Hall of Fame in early January.
Senior basketball players include Pedro Bradshaw, Loreal Cheaney, Addie Hendley, Shon Kees, Paul Jones, Deshawn Mason, Jaylyn McMurry and Micah Naylor.