Dolphin TO Knight

COACH CASTLEBERRY '03 TRACES PATH TO SUCCESS BACK TO CHC

By

Margo

Director

Cape Henry Collegiate’s core values of community and opportunity live on in students long after they leave campus, compelling them to be good people and propelling them to great heights. This is the case for Mr. Jack Castleberry ‘03 who was a part of NCAA basketball history in March, helping lead the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights to their biggest win to date, beating the top-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament.

Mr. Castleberry’s time at Cape Henry was a blueprint for his success. Academically, he was challenged in a manner that prepared him for the rigors of college at Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Personally, Cape Henry was the first school that felt like home to him. The sense of community was powerful, and he grew tremendously from his time and experiences at CHC.

Mr. Castleberry fondly remembers his 12th grade government teacher, Mr. Samuel Sawaya, who pushed him to see other people's perspectives and to examine his own beliefs more thoroughly.

Of course, Mr. Castleberry also spent a lot of time on the basketball court, playing the sport he’s loved since a young child, and bonding with his teammates and Coach Larry Ward, who made the biggest impact on him during his time at CHC.

“Coach Ward pushed me outside of my comfort zone and showed me how hard I would have to work to achieve my goals,” said Mr. Castleberry.

Their relationship continued through college basketball at VMI, where Mr. Castleberry went from a walk-on to a scholarship player before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics and business in 2007, and into Mr. Castleberry’s own coaching career. Mr. Castleberry has relied on Coach Ward for advice during his time coaching at the University of Tennessee at Martin from 2007 to 2008, VMI from 2008 to 2012, Siena College from 2012 to 2014, and The Citadel from 2017 from 2022. The two coaches are still in touch today.

Under Coach Ward’s influence, Mr. Castleberry excelled at basketball and left his mark on Dolphins athletics. His senior year, he was named first team All-TCIS and averaged 13 points a game. At VMI, he played guard and was a part-time starter his final two seasons, captaining the Keydets in the 2006-2007 season while averaging 1.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 13 minutes per game.

Mr. Castleberry still remembers the feeling of beating Catholic High School to win the TCIS tournament championship his senior year at Cape Henry.

“That was a great team and a group of guys that were fun to be around. I loved playing in front of the home crowds,” said Mr. Castleberry, who is still known for breaking into the signature Dolphin Rumble cheer from time to time. “Cape Henry has so much community pride and I was honored to represent a place that I loved.”

When looking at Mr. Castleberry’s 2003 senior page in the Compass Rose yearbook, it is clear he was destined for success and his mindset was on winning. He quoted basketball player, coach and broadcaster Mr. Jim Valvano, who said, "Don't give up, don’t ever give up,” and used player and coach Mr. John Wooden’s maxim, “Failure to prepare is preparing for failure.” Nine decades later, Mr. Castleberry’s Knights would go on to defeat Purdue, Mr. Wooden’s team back in the 1930s.

“Our NCAA tournament run was a great experience and hearing the stories of people cheering us on from afar has been very cool.”

Recently named the Knights’ new head coach, Mr. Castleberry feels grateful to the people who got him there and lucky to have the chance to continue creating opportunities within another unique community.