Why Charlotte Latin boys’ basketball coach Chris Berger channels inner ‘ultimate underdog’

The walls of Chris Berger’s office inside the old gym at Charlotte Latin School are covered with nameplates of former players and photos and clippings of stories accumulated over the past 15 years.

One photo seems out of place.

“Oh, yeah — that one,” Berger said, pointing to a spot near a corner.

Amid all the basketball memorabilia is an ice hockey photo.

It’s the iconic photo of the celebration on the ice at Lake Placid, N.Y., in February 1980, shortly after the United States team upset the Soviet Union in the Winter Olympics semifinals, a moment that would become known as the Miracle on Ice.

“To me, that photo says ‘Ultimate Underdog,’ ” Berger said. “That’s how I view myself.”

Since following his mentor, the legendary Jerry Faulkner, as head boys’ basketball coach at Charlotte Latin in 2009, Berger’s team have won 270 games, which is about two-thirds of the time they step on the court.

That isn’t exactly “underdog” level of play, but it’s how Berger drives himself to succeed.

“Charlotte Latin took a chance on me as a student-athlete,” Berger said. “I feel like I need to give something back.”

Berger won a state championship as a player with the Hawks and he’d love to do the same as a coach.

Being the underdog

Charlotte Latin is picked by most coaches to finish around the middle of the pack in the CISAA this season. But with a group of experienced seniors and a couple of flashy newcomers — including the first eighth-grader ever to play varsity basketball at the school — the Hawks could surprise.

Again ... that “underdog” role.

Berger followed Faulkner as head coach prior to the 2009-10 season, and he has an engraved plate containing the name of every Charlotte Latin player hanging on his office walls. Some of the names are well-known — Daniel Jones, now quarterback of the NFL’s New York Giants; Bates Jones, who later played at Davidson; Rusty Reigel, another Hawk who played at Davidson.

If you point to one of the nameplates, chances are excellent that Berger will tell you what that person is doing today.

“He’s an investment banker,” the Hawks’ coach said when a visitor pointed to one of the plates. “I talked to him just a couple weeks ago.”

Charlotte Latin doesn’t always have the flashiest high school basketball players, but the Hawks are always well-schooled, disciplined and driven.

That goes back to Berger, who has detailed plans drawn up for every practice. Before the season begins, coaches, players and team managers receive descriptions of the coach’s expectations for them. That includes being well-dressed (no sweats).

“Dress First Class, Act First Class, Play First Class, and Be First Class,” says the first item on Berger’s instruction sheet, titled “Game Organization and Philosophy.”

“Coaching is teaching,” Berger said. “That’s what makes it so great. Our motto is to work hard and stay humble.”

“We try to show up and do our job — every day,” he added.

He has built a strong coaching staff. His chief assistant, Donay Fulwood, played with Berger three decades ago at Queens University. John Fitch, a longtime head coach at South Mecklenburg, joined the staff five years ago.

“We don’t waste time in our practices,” Berger said. “Everything is planned, down to the minute.”

He said he appreciates that players, coaches and managers are giving their time to the Charlotte Latin basketball program. He doesn’t want to waste that investment.

Valuing dedication

Berger learned a lot about dedication from his late father, Andy.

Andy Berger was a Secret Service agent who was on John F. Kennedy’s security detail in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Andy Berger wasn’t with JFK when he was shot in a motorcade — he was preparing security at the site where the President was supposed to speak. But he drove the hearse containing JFK’s body to the airport in Dallas, for the trip back to Washington.

“I had my parents as inspirations,” Chris Berger said. “My dad showed what it means to be dedicated to something.”

He values dedication. And this year, Berger has five seniors who have given a lot of time and effort to the program.

“That’s what makes this season so promising,” he said. “These are five great seniors. It’s been fun to watch these guys grow together.”

The group is led by 6-3 forward James Jones, who averaged 13 points a game last season; and Titus Ivory, a 6-1 wing who averaged nine points a contest. Brendan Miles, a 6-0 guard, is another senior likely to start.

But there are promising newcomers. Alex Dauska, a 6-3 forward, is a sophomore who averaged nine points a game as a freshman. And then there’s 5-7 guard Emory Chaney, the eighth-grader.

“Our league (CISAA) is now permitting us to have eighth-graders on our varsity teams, and Emory will be the first at Latin,” Berger said. “He’s special.”

Providence Day and Covenant Day are the CISAA’s favorites, and Cannon School will be tough, with former Central Cabarrus coach James Baker taking over.

But Berger said he thinks the Hawks, 14-14 a year ago, can make some noise.

“Being so young makes me nervous,” he said, referring to the important roles that the younger players might have. “But we have those really good seniors. I think we can stay with those top teams.”

And after more than three decades of playing and coaching basketball, Berger said he’s still enjoying himself.

“No coach can do this without family support, and I’ve sure had that,” he said, referring to wife Heidi and daughters Molly and Lucy. “My wife and daughters are tremendous support. There are a lot of long days in this job, a lot of long nights. I’ve been blessed with my family’s support.”

Has Berger lost any of the fire?

“I wouldn’t be here, if that were the case,” he said. “In fact, this year, the fire in the belly might be greater than ever.”