June 16, 2000

Just hours before a June 14 ceremony to re-dedicate the Vestavia High (Vestavia Hills, Ala.) baseball complex in his name, Sammy Dunn was reminded that most such ceremonies take place after the honoree is dead. But just like he has done throughout his 23-year career as the Rebels' head baseball coach, Dunn was quick to deflect the day's worth of fun-loving jabs and attention toward his players.

	Sammy Dunn has compiled a record of 565-193 in 23 seasons at the helm of Vestavia High.

"I'm living and I hope I continue to live," quipped Dunn, 47. "I hope the reason (for the dedication) is because of what we try to do for kids and what we stand for, not because we've won games. This is a great honor for our kids. Our field and our program were built with tremendous young men, so you've got to give them all the credit. You don't win a game unless you've got great players."

What is now Sammy Dunn Field hosted its inaugural game back in 1978. Dunn, himself a former Fairfield High (Fairfield, Ala.) and University of Alabama infielder, has amassed a remarkable 565-193 coaching record in the 23 seasons since, capped by the Rebels' ninth state title in 10 years this spring. He is the winningest coach in the history of Alabama high school baseball.

The 2000 squad's Class 6A crown marked a state-record seventh consecutive championship, just one behind the national record of eight straight state baseball titles, set by Tucson High (Ariz.) from 1939-46. The Rebels have won 38 single-elimination postseason games in a row since 1988 and have appeared in 11 of the last 13 state title games.

"More than anything else it's his dedication that makes him special," said Adam Moseley, 23, Dunn's graduate-assistant coach and a former Birmingham Southern College left-handed pitcher. "He's always here, works hard and he doesn't accept anything but your best. That's different than a lot of coaches I've played for. But coach is also a motivator. He gets me so fired up, I want to play for him. Anybody who knows him would do anything for him. He's that type of guy."

	Over 100 Vestavia players have accepted college scholarships during Dunn's reign.

According to Dunn, the facility that now bears his name is as good as any high school baseball complex in the country. An indoor facility adjacent to the right-field line was added this past year and is attached to the home and visiting locker rooms, which were built by Rebels players. The indoor complex boasts batting cages, indoor mounds, wall-to-wall carpeting and stadium-quality lighting, the latter also donated by a former player. The field dimensions are 340 feet to left, 325 to right and 380 to straight-away center. The park, which also sports concession facilities, a press box, pro-style dugouts and outdoor batting cages, has a crowd capacity of 1,500.

An average of four Vestavia players per year earn college scholarships, a total of more than 100 since 1978. A whopping 18 former Rebels played college baseball this spring and a total of 12 Vestavia alumni participated in the 1996 College World Series.

"We've had some kids come through here that just worked their fanny off in a lot of different ways," said Dunn, who coached the Rebels' varsity football team for 22 seasons, through 1998, winning state titles in 1980 and '98. "This field was actually built with kid power - everything we have was built or donated by our kids and alumni."

But it was Dunn who first helped to build those kids.

"You hear a lot before you get here about how tough it is to play here, and it is tough," said Andrew Schmidt, 18, a senior catcher on this year's Vestavia state title team. "But [Coach Dunn] gets the most out of you. At the end of the season, you look back and you see how far you've come and it's special."