Dorman hires former Cavaliers star Ashlen Dewart Dorn as girls basketball coach
Former Dorman standout Ashlen Dewart Dorn has been hired as the Cavaliers' girls basketball coach, the school announced Thursday.
She replaces Valorie Whiteside, who resigned last month after 11 seasons leading the program.
"She has such a passion and drive to continue to build on the strong tradition that we have and help us continue to reach new heights," said Jon Stoehr, Dorman's incoming athletic director. "She provided us with a comprehensive portfolio and plan that detailed every part of the program that she wanted to touch ... it was so detailed and so thorough. It really, it really made you feel confident."
Dorn played at Dorman from 2006-09, during which the Cavaliers won one state championship and finished as state runner-up three times. In addition, she played at Appalachian State and Chattanooga.
"It's starting to hit me more and more the closer I get to coming back home, officially. But Dorman's always been a part of me, literally. Before I was born, my mom was a coach there," said Dorn. "It's certainly a dream come true, and the reality of it is still hitting me. I'm just so excited to come home and help take this program even further."
Dorn had been the coach at Seneca since 2018 and won two Region 1-AAA titles, and was recognized as coach of the year twice. She also coached at the college level, getting her start as a graduate assistant at Converse College in 2015.
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Last season, the Cavaliers won the Region 2-AAAAA title and made it to the quarterfinals of the state tournament, but leading scorers Renasia Jeter-McKissick and Chamiah Dominick are graduating.
"I definitely want to come in and work with the girls and evaluate them face to face and see where we are, but I think that it is going to be a rebuilding process just from the culture to the plays we put in, to every part of the program," Dorn said. "But I know that the girls are hungry; I've watched a little bit of film on them, and ... they've always been gritty, they've always been competitive, and I'm just excited to come in and take that to the next level and help build this program.
"Coming in as a new coach in a big program like this is always a process, and there will be growing pains, but I'm very confident that we'll be successful over time."
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Dorman High hires Ashlen Dewart as girls basketball coach
