You ever go to a stadium or gym and wonder why it has its name?  

I cannot even make a guess as to how many different facilities I have been to a game at in the last five-plus years of covering local sports, from down state West Virginia to a few hours out into the Ohio countryside, and many of them are named after people.  

Now, admittedly, I don’t always know the backstory of that person, especially the ones at venues far from home. But, it always makes me curious, often leading me to do some research.  

We have several locally that are pretty self explanatory, Reno Field, Mazeroski Field, etc.  

We added another one Friday night when Indian Creek’s new basketball court was officially commemorated as “Coach D Court” for Joe Dunlevy.  

Local sports fans absolutely know coach D. After nearly four decades of coaching, a hall of fame career, the number of people in the local sports scene to have interacted with coach D has to be immeasurable.  

Whether it’s a local stadium with a familiar name, or one afar I’ve researched the name behind, one thing is clear — naming a venue after someone has to do with honoring their legacy and thanking them for contributions to a school or program.  

Absolutely fitting for coach D.  

While we know him, what will visitors who come to Indian Creek’s new facility for years to come want to know about why the court dons his name?  

Well, for any of them that are curious like I am about venues names and happen come across this, or anyone locally that doesn’t know coach D, here is my own take.  

I’ve always said it’s the people that make this job, covering local sports, so enjoyable.  

Coach D is one of those people.  

My first interaction with him as a young sports writer in 2017 still trying to learn who everyone was and built relationships involved a joke about my Steelers hat, and then a conversation about his Browns.  

And, immediately I felt comfortable.  

What I went on to learn very quickly was if I was going to Indian Creek, whether it be for a mid week soccer game in September or a volleyball match in October, or, of course, a basketball game in the winter or baseball game in the spring, you’re going to see coach D.  

Our AD’s are some of the hardest working people around and he’s no exception.  

For example, I went to a jayvee football game at Indian Creek early on a Saturday morning to watch my cousin play with my family and it was none other than coach D working the ticket gate, then later in the game, he was working the chains.  

Another thing about coach D, the conversations that make him happiest are usually about something a former player has accomplished, or when a Creek athlete is going on to play college sports or has garnered some recognition or accolades.  

He seems to remember a lot about every player that’s ever played for him, and he’d much rather talk about them or his current basketball team than his own accolades.  

So, those in the future curious about the name, mine is just one of countless about the man who’s name is on the court.  

Another thing coach D always jokes at end of interviews is to make him sound good.  

Well, coach, I hope I did a good job.  

Congrats on the well deserved honor.