CSI in the News - CSI Today

Longtime Madison HS softball coach Bill Dumont out to build a
winner at Brooklyn College
BY Lillian Rizzo
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Tuesday, May 4th 2010, 4:00 AM
On a recent afternoon in Brooklyn, Bill Dumont propped himself up against a chain-link fence, hands behind his head,
looking a little like he was taking a catnap while his players collected the yellow softballs that had scattered across the
field at Avenue U and E. 59th St.
"Hey Coach, are you falling asleep on me?" outfielder Annie Brown said, as she stretched out on the diamond.
"No, just relaxing," Dumont said, opening his eyes.
Coming from the coach who was known for his hovering stance, furrowed brow and red-faced screams across the
field during the 17 years he was leading the successful softball program at Madison HS, that seemed like an unlikely
response.
It seems that Dumont, 47, is no longer the fiery high school coach to whom everyone grew accustomed during his
years in Marine Park, Brooklyn.
He still teaches chemistry and coaches two other sports at Madison, but now he is running the softball program at
Brooklyn College, a job he accepted last June. Those who have known him in both capacities have been saying that
Bill Dumont seems like a different man.
Dumont has taken himself out of his comfort zone. In the process, he seems to have dialed down his demeanor.
Andrea Tepfer, a Baruch College junior pitcher who played at Susan Wagner HS, remembers Dumont as a coach
who "knew everything" about the game. Her own high school coach, Marco Altieri, and Dumont were friendly and
used to chat often.
"He wasn't afraid to speak his mind and he would always voice his opinion," Tepfer said of Dumont. "Now, he seems
a lot more laid back."
Tepfer is not the only one who says she sees a different Dumont.
"I see his behavior and attitude improved," said College of Staten Island coach Stella Porto. "It is a maturity thing; he
is different. I used to be at the fields (recruiting), and he would be screaming and yelling. Now, he is very calm."
Brooklyn College asked Dumont to take over its floundering softball program after the Bulldogs went 3-9 in the CUNY
Athletic Conference last season (6-21 overall).
Dumont didn't jump on the opportunity the instant it was offered.
In addition to a slight pay cut, Dumont was about to walk away from a situation that took years to build.
His stature at Madison was almost too much to give up. There were girls whom he'd molded since their freshman
year; he had a field that was only a few years old. Most importantly, he was the backbone of a highly accomplished
program, one that had just played an undefeated season and been eliminated from the PSAL playoffs in a
heartbreaking loss to Tottenville.
"I had everything in Madison," said Dumont, who guided the Knights to the PSAL playoffs seven times, led them to
three title games and notched his 600th career coaching win last spring. "I left a program that was top-notch."
Dumont's behavior at Madison was decidedly different.
"He's very detailed; he's very hands on; he's very proactive," said Anthony Rodriguez, a Baruch College assistant
who got to know Dumont when he went to Madison to recruit. "You always hear him yelling instructions from the
Page 55 of 155