RICHLAND, MI — Richland Gull Lake has become one of Southwest Michigan’s top men’s basketball teams during Bryan Dutton’s five seasons at the top of the program, but the Blue Devils will need to continue that success under a new leadership this season.
Dutton announced his decision to step down as Gull Lake varsity boys’ basketball coach due to a new job that will take him, his wife, Alyssa, and their three children out of state.
“It was a lot of fun and I love Gull Lake, but it’s best for the family,” said Dutton, who took a job as a regional field representative for The Cincinnati Insurance Company. .
The Blue Devils went 5-38 combined in the two seasons before Dutton took over from Gary Sprague as head coach, and while the turnaround wasn’t immediate, Gull Lake showed a improving towards the end of a 6-15 first season, then went 10-13 in Year 2, despite opening the season with seven straight losses.
This late-season push paved the way for a successful 2019-20 campaign, which included an upset against Kalamazoo Central, a 13-9 record and a trip to the District Finals.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season a day before the Blue Devils prepared to face Coldwater.
The return of all-state point guard Caleb Taylor was met with much excitement in Dutton’s fourth year at the top of the program, and once state basketball teams were given the green light to resume games amid the pandemic, the Blue Devils looked like a team with potential regional championship.
Gull Lake won its first SMAC East title in program history and finished the regular season 12-4, including seven straight wins heading into the playoffs, but COVID-19 protocols left the roster decimated heading into the playoffs, and the Blue Devils lost a round. 1 stunning in Battle Creek Central.
Dutton guided the Blue Devils to another solid season in 2021-22, leading them to a pair of victories over Kalamazoo Central, including another thumping victory and a second consecutive SMAC East title, before falling to Coldwater in the semi-finals of the district.
Dutton comes away with a 54-49 overall record, and while there have been many big wins along the way, he said the relationships he’s built in the community and watching the players grow over the course of their four years in the program will be the things he will miss the most.
“I think I’ve become really good friends with some people around the school, so that’s going to be the hardest part for me, besides seeing kids come in as first graders and seeing them come out as seniors. and watch them grow from boys to young men,” he said.
“Just coaching the kids and seeing the success grow and seeing people start to believe in what the program can be when you get a community to rally behind you, those are some of my favorite memories,” he added. “Plus, making a name for us in Gull Lake, beating Kalamazoo Central and hanging banners for divisional championships.”
In a letter to the Gull Lake community, Dutton thanked Gull Lake athletic director Karyn Furlong and former Blue Devils coach Gary Sprague for welcoming him into the program as a junior varsity coach. in 2016, as well as his assistant coaches and school event staff to help the team along the way.
“Each team will always hold a special place in my heart as I enjoy every game I’ve had the chance to coach,” Dutton wrote. “I feel very lucky to have worked, coached and become such good friends with so many players, coaches, teachers and families over these years.
“Thank you to all of my teams for always playing hard and competing the right way. My goal from day one was to put Gull Lake basketball back on the Michigan map…We were able to do that by winning two SMAC titles and having won records over the past three years with arguably one of the toughest schedules in the state every year.
“I put everything into this program and I’m confident we’ve helped shape Gull Lake’s basketball culture for many years to come,” added Dutton.
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