Coach Dwayne Melton has joined the Ellsworth Community College Panthers as an assistant coach with the Men’s Basketball Program. Melton joins the coaching staff after spending the previous three seasons coaching locally within the South Hardin Community School system in a variety of roles.
“I am really excited to join the Ellsworth Basketball program this year. I have known Coach Bender for a great deal of time and am very excited to work with and learn from him and the staff. I’m extremely excited to work with this special group of young guys assembled to help them grow both on and off the court, I am very familiar with the Iowa Falls community and will take this opportunity to become a part of the family-oriented area,” said Melton.
Prior to coaching at the Middle and High School levels, Coach Melton served as the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Quakerdale Prep Academy in New Providence, Iowa. In his four seasons at the helm, he compiled a 78-30 record while helping 27 Student-Athletes earn Scholarships to play at the collegiate level. 15 signed NCAA DI Scholarships and 12 of his former players played professionally all over the world. His teams consistently played national level Junior and Community Colleges throughout the country, including MSU-West Plains where Coach Bryan Bender served as Assistant Coach during the 2013-14 season. Before being elevated to Head Coach, Melton served as the top Assistant Coach at Quakerdale under Coach Bradley Matney for one season.
Coach Melton got his start in the coaching field at his Alma Mater, Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. He served as a graduate assistant coach while earning two Master’s Certificates in Psychology. One in the field of School-based services and the other in Mental Health Services.
Melton had a short stint as a Professional Football player overseas, but due to multiple knee injuries, his career was cut short. He played four years of varsity football and two years of basketball at Graceland before becoming a student coach for the basketball program. He was an assistant coach for 3 seasons and also served as the head JV Coach. He was part of a staff that helped assemble one of the best-recruiting classes in school history which included 8 Academic All-Americans and 4 All-Conference players.
Melton Graduated from Thornton Township High School on the south side of Chicago in Illinois in 2006 where he was a three-sport athlete playing football, basketball, and baseball. He received all-conference honors in football and was ranked a two-star athlete by rivals.com
“Coach Dwayne Melton was the perfect fit for this position. He is a high-character coach, husband, father, mentor, and teacher both on and off the floor and will complement our staff really well. He helped build a championship-caliber program as the head coach at Quakerdale Prep and his head coaching experience will be a major advantage in a multitude of ways. His local ties in the Hardin County area will also help us continue to build our brand in Iowa Falls and the surrounding area. He brings a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and passion to our program and aligns with our Core Values of Passion, Humility & Discipline,” said Bryan Bender, Head Coach of the ECC Men’s Basketball team.
Coach Dwayne Jamel Melton-Bray Jr. is the son of Dwayne Sr. and Bonnie Melton and has 2 brothers and 4 sisters. He currently resides in Eldora with his beautiful wife Amanda, 2 beautiful daughters Madilyn, and Mylie, and their son named Tyrell.
https://www.eccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/releases/20220902i9kos4
