Dodie Dunson is in his second season with the SIUE women’s basketball program, serving as the assistant basketball coach. Dunson oversees the recruiting, on-court coaching, scouting reports with opponent tendencies, director of basketball camps and player development with perimeter and post players, helping recruit and mentor a pair of OVC All-Conference selections Donshel Beck and Nakiah Bell.
Previously, Dunson spent two seasons as the Director of Basketball Operations for the men’s and women’s basketball programs at Western Illinois University, overseeing recruiting visits, team travel, video exchange, community and alumni relations, direct summer camps, fundraising, supervise student managers, and oversee academic progress of the student-athletes.
The Leathernecks qualified for the 2015-16 Women's Basketball Invitational. The WBI bid was the fourth postseason tournament appearance in program history.
Dunson was a standout player for Bradley University, helping the Braves to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament Championship game in 2009. He was the team’s captain for three seasons and became the first newcomer to lead the team in scoring in the season-opener since NBA and Bradley Hall of Famer Anthony Parker in (1993).
After leaving Bradley, Dunson played professional basketball with the World Vison Sports Select team (2011), then he began to pursue a career in coaching. He started as the Director of Operations and Recruiting Coordinator for Team Illinois AAU Education and Athletic Program, serving as the head coach for the 17U/16U team from 2009-13.
He coached as the boys’ varsity assistant basketball coach at Bloomington High School from 2011-13, helping to turn a last place team with three wins into an 18-win squad that finished third in the IHSA Big 12 Conference.
Dunson served the 2013-14 season as the men’s basketball assistant and recruiting coordinator at Wabash Valley College with responsibilities that included coaching, scouting, and recruiting. Dunson help led the Warriors to the NJCAA Region XXIV semi-finals tournament game and guided multiple players to the GRAC All-Conference team.
A native of Bloomington, Dunson started his collegiate playing career at Iowa State University. He is ranked fourth all-time at Iowa State for most three-pointers made by a freshman. He later transferred to Vincennes University for one season, helping the Trailblazers to a 28-6 record. He was named MVP of the NJCAA District III Regional Tournament and led the team to the NJCAA National Tournament appearance in 2008. He completed his collegiate career at Bradley University.
As a senior, Dunson was voted a first team member of the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team. He made the Dean’s List four semesters at Bradley, made the Top Ten Lowe’s Senior Class All-American Team, and member of the Illinois Kappa Chapter of the National Athlete Honors Society (Chi Alpha Sigma).
Dunson graduated from Bradley University with a bachelor’s degree in social work with Magna Cum Laude honors and a master’s in education from SIUE in physical education & coaching pedagogy.
He resides with his wife Tameka in Glen Carbon.
