Any list of the Miami Valley’s top high school boys basketball coaches since the creation of competition, has to include Columbus Hines. A Kentucky-native nicknamed the “Country Squire” due to his prominent presence, easy-going aura and rural raising, Hines honed a hoops dynasty at Dixie High School in New Lebanon.
Under his guidance (1954-1968), the Greyhounds went 277-57 and claimed two state (1962 and 1966), five district and 11 league titles (Montgomery County League and Dayton Suburban League). Dixie was state runner-up in 1958.
Four months after his 1968 squad finished 26-1 (lost 52-50 to Cincinnati Lincoln Heights in the Class A Troy Regional final), Hines passed away at age 58 from a heart attack on July 28.
The lone inductee in the inaugural class of the Dixie Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993, Hines was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
“There’s no way we’ll ever forget Columbus Hines out here,” former player Gary Peffly told the Dayton Daily News’ Dave Long in 1978. “He was a great man and a great coach. I’m just glad I had the opportunity to play for him.”
“He believed in competition,” Al Peters, who played at Ohio State, told the Journal Herald in 1968. “He played to win, but he played fair and square.”
Said Gearhart, another Ohio State recruit under Hines: “The guy just had the ability to somehow instill a winning attitude. He made you want to win. He didn’t complicate the game. He made it simple and fun.”
Hines started his coaching career at Lykens High in Crawford County (21-4) and spent eight years at West Elkton High in Preble County (175-40) before heading east.
His overall record of 452-97 includes 15 league titles and seven county titles.
Dixie was his masterpiece.
The 1958 squad won a school record 27 straight games before falling 69-55 to West Salem Northwestern in the Class A state semifinals to finish 27-1. The Greyhounds downed Hamilton Ross and Newark St. Francis in the regional.
Dixie again finished 27-1 in 1962 and Class A state champions with wins over West Liberty-Salem (71-69 in the semis) and Berlin Hiland (74-62 in the final).
The 1966 Greyhounds went 22-3 and finished as Class A state champions with wins over Rittman (56-46 in the semis) and Rossford (75-63 in the final).
Dixie’s second wind came under Peffly, a program vet that scored 37 points in the 1962 state tournament.
As head coach, Peffly led the Greyhounds to the Class AA state final in 1981 where they lost 60-48 to Napoleon. Dixie beat Carlisle and Bexley in the regional and Youngstown Rayen (49-48) in the state semifinal.
Peffly guided Dixie to district titles in 1978, 1981, 1984 and 1987, which is the program’s last. That squad — fueled by future Dayton Flyers Ken Branch and Wes Coffee — lost in the Class AA Dayton Regional Final 67-60 to Jefferson. Dixie won 25 straight games that season to finish 25-1.
Dixie’s Derek Sizemore was named Division III Southwest District Player of the Year in 1990. FILE PHOTO
Overall the Greyhounds have reached eight regional finals, won nine district titles, produced 10 20-win seasons and own 21-league titles (Montgomery County League, Dayton Suburban League and Southwestern Buckeye League). Their first league championship came in 1933 (MCL). Their last was 2008 (SWBL).
The DHS record for points in a game is 113 against Xenia Wilson in 1970. In 1981, the Greyhounds slapped 111 on Brookville.
Below is a look at the program’s all-time starting five and it’s sixth man. This is the latest in a series of the top high school basketball players in Dayton area history.
Fab FiveDoug Dafler, 1981
Three-year starter named AA Southwest District Player of the Year and All-Ohio as a senior when he averaged 21.4 points (scored 599 total) for the state runners-up. Sizeable specimen (6-foot-6) ranks seventh on the DHS all-time scoring list (1,194 points) and fourth in career rebounds (613). Dropped 46 points (third highest in program history) on Franklin Monroe as a junior. Averaged 18.4 points over 67 career games.
Gary Gearhart, 1958
Four-year starter (6-3) averaged 15.4 points over a school record 94 career games. Earned Class A first team All-Ohio honors as a senior (22.8 points) and currently ranks as the program’s third all-time leading scorer (1,445 points). His 642 points in 1958 ranks second in program history. Went to Ohio State where he averaged 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds over 62 career games. Was a key reserve on the Buckeyes 1960 National Championship team and 1961 and 1962 National Runners-Up. Played with Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek, Bobby Knight and Larry Siegfried.
Al Peters, 1962
Program’s second all-time leading scorer (1,527 points) averaged 19.1 points over 80 career games. Dropped 48 in two state tournament games as a senior (6-4, 175) as Dixie won the state title. Averaged 24.5 points and set the school’s single-season scoring record with 700 that season en route to earning first team All-Ohio and DNN All-Area honors. Also dropped 41 points on Germantown and snagged a school record 30 rebounds in a game that winter. Went to Ohio State on a basketball ride. Earned 11 letters at Dixie where he quarterbacked the football team and tossed a no-hitter in baseball.
Derek Sizemore, 1991
Walking bucket set multiple school scoring records including career points (1,589), career scoring average (24.8), single-season scoring average (30.4 points) and single-game scoring (54 points against National Trail as a junior) en route to earning back-to-back first team D-III AP All-Ohio honors as a junior and senior. Also owns school records for career 3-pointers (191), single-season 3-pointers (78) and 3-pointers made in a game (eight). Dropped 46 points on Eaton as a junior, 45 on Northridge as a senior, 41 on Tippecanoe as a junior and 40 (twice) against Oakwood as a senior. Also had 256 career assists (sixth all-time), 138 steals (seventh) and 433 career rebounds (10th). Played two years at Sinclair Community College before enrolling at Morehead State.
Larry Wilson, 1966
Class A first team All-Ohio, DDN All-Greater Dayton and JH Area All-Star selection as a (6-6) senior when he averaged 24 points. Dropped 27 points in Dixie’s state semifinal win over Rittman and 12 in the state final victory over Rossford to earn first team All-Tournament honors. His 623 points in 1966 ranks fourth all-time. Averaged 20.5 points over 49 career games to finish with 1,007 career points. Slapped 44 on Bellbrook as a senior. Played at Lindsey Wilson Junior College and Kent State University, where he was the Golden Flashes leading rebounder (7.6) and defensive MVP as a senior (in 1970). Averaged 9.9 points that season.
Sixth ManPhil Hoke, 1984
Program’s all-time leading rebounder (790) ranks fourth in career scoring (1,316 points) and eighth in steals (138). Two-time AA All-Ohio selection (6-3) averaged 23.2 points as a junior before recording a monster senior season that ranks among the program’s best ever. Averaged 21.4 points and scored 577 total (seventh best single-season in program history) in addition to grabbing 327 rebounds (second best) and 61 steals (sixth best). Tied a school-record with eight steals in one game. Three-time All-SWBL selection was twice named the league’s player of the year. Earned a basketball ride from Georgia Southern.
Phil Hoke looks for an opening in this 1983 file photo. DAVE FLEISCHER / STAFF
Honorable Mention: Chris Bowser, 1982; Ken Branch, 1987; Jordan Butt, 2022; Wes Coffee, 1987; John Dafler, 1956; Jeff Eck, 1970; Jim Eck Sr., 1943; Nate Emrick, 2025; Randy Etter, 1979; Chad Fisher, 1997; Jamie Freels, 1988; Jerry French, 1978; Dwight Gabbard, 1978; Kent Gearhart, 1965; Ron Gearhart, 1955; Conner Hawk, 2023; Jeff Hoke, 1975; Kole Huffman, 2024; John Hunn, 1981; Eric Innis, 1977; Norm Jewett, 1984; Kevin Kindler, 1991; Hal Miller, 1994; Larry Martin, 1958; Phil McCloud, 1987; Wes McKinney, 1970; Jared Moore, 2008; Stan Olwine, 1967; Chris Peffly, 1987; Gary Peffly, 1962; Steve Powers, 1991; John Richardson, 1971; Gary Seely, 1964; Dick Shimp, 1960; Mark Sizemore, 1969; Ted Sizemore, 1969; Marc Smith, 1968; Jeff Stamps, 1978; Wes McKinney, 1970; Mike Wampler, 1966; Devin Worley, 2018.