Darryl Dawkins was the seventh man ever to go from college directly to the NBA. He's a man that has many nicknames including, Chocolate Thunder, Dr. Dunk, Backboard Breaker, and many more. He has named his dunks, In Your Face Disgrace, Earthquake Breaker, and Yo' Mama! He's also a professional basketball head coach.

Darryl Dawkins was drafted #5 overall in 1975 by the Philadelphia 76ers. While with the Sixers, he went to three NBA Finals in 1977, 1980, and 1982, winning the championship in 1982. He also played with New Jersey ('82-'87), Detroit ('87-'88), and Utah ('88-'89). Darryl was always a high percentage shooter, he led his team in shooting percentage many times. He was a great well rounded player. Not only was he a high percentage shooter on the offensive side, he had a defensive game as well. He holds the New Jersey Nets record for blocked shots in a game with 13!

In 1999, Darryl Dawkins came to the Lehigh Valley to coach the Valley Dawgs. He led them through a great season with a 18-9 record, good enough for a playoff spot and USBL Coach of the Year honors. A year later, the Dawgs finished with a 20-11 record which won them the Northern Division. The Valley Dawgs were disappointed and upset by a Oklahoma team in the first round (109-106) though. The home crowd really tasted what it was like to win though. The Valley Dawgs were one of the USBL's best teams playing at home with a 13-3 record.

The next year, the Valley Dawgs went off to a great winning streak and had their mid-season woes. But a late season run capped off a Post Season Tournament run and they beat the defending champions, Dodge City, to win their first USBL Championship!

Coach Dawkins did not win the Coach of the Year honors in 2001 greatly because of rookie head coach Robert Parish leading Maryland to a first place finish. But Darry Dawkins was not far back of Robert Parish. This year Coach Dawkins will rally up the troops and try to successfully defend their USBL Championship. It will be another exciting season.