By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

When Riverside added Timmy Byrd and his seven state basketball championships to its roster of coaches recently, it was considered a major splash.

The Rebels’ newest addition brings six more state title rings to the table.

That’s because former Ridgewood coach Chuck Dorvin has officially been hired as the new head girls’ basketball coach at Riverside.

Dorvin replaces Kristy Hebert, who will remain the school’s head softball coach while sliding into a new position as head volleyball coach. She will also concentrate efforts on the school’s junior high basketball team.

It was Hebert, in fact, that made the move possible, said Byrd, Riverside’s athletic director. Hebert played for Dorvin at Ridgewood, and each has served as the other’s assistant coach over their respective careers.

“At the end of the school year, we learned he was interested in taking a more active role in coaching,” said Byrd. “With his relationship with Kristy, we had a chance to secure him. With a guy of his caliber, you don’t pass up that opportunity. It just shows what a team player Kristy is.”

Dorvin echoed those sentiments.

“All my teams are special to me,” he says. “But that ‘91-’92 team (that Hebert played on) was a unique group. We decided to give it a shot.”

As a head coach, Dorvin piloted Ridgewood to six state championships, while winning a seventh as an assistant. He spent 17 years at the school before departing to become a basketball and volleyball official in the metro area.

After three years at John Curtis, two of those as an assistant, he decided to make the jump.

It will not be his first go-around at Riverside, having coached at the school in 1983 and 1984.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Dorvin said. “(Right away) we want to establish fundamentals, playing hard and displaying sportsmanship. The winning will take care of itself from there. But we’re preparing for the future.”

Byrd said parents and fans that attend the games in coming years will appreciate Dorvin’s coaching style.

“Your goal is always to pack the gym, make it exciting for everyone involved,” said Byrd. “His teams play an exciting brand of ball. He brings discipline. Now, he’s got the chance to build another dynamic program.”