DICKINSON — For more than 50 years, New England Tiger Daryl Jung roamed the halls of New England Public Schools as the school’s athletic director. On Friday night, his legacy was cemented forever as the school officially unveiled what is now Daryl Jung Court.
Friends, family and what seemed like the entire New England community packed the stands for the unveiling ceremony, which took place just minutes before the Tigers’ home basketball game against Beach.
Many in attendance wore white T-shirts featuring Jung’s nickname, “Heavy D,” alongside the Tiger logo.
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Jung’s wife, children and grandchildren joined him at half court to begin the ceremony. Former superintendents, coaches and teammates all spoke, sharing stories and memories of Jung’s decades long impact on the school and community.
The ceremony culminated with Jung taking the microphone to thank those who helped shape his career.
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Following the speeches, Jung and his family pulled away the Tiger-branded cloth covering the floor, revealing the newly redesigned court, complete with Jung’s exact signature placed right below center court.
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“It’s big time,” Jung said candidly. “Very, very few people ever get an honor like this. I really appreciate this community – what they’ve done for me, the support they’ve given me. So many great coaches, great players – it’s a great team effort.”
Jung was hired as a basketball coach in 1972 and coached at the junior high and elementary levels for 33 years. Over his time in New England, he filled many roles, including teacher, coach and athletic director.
He also had the chance to step back onto the court one more time, conducting the ceremonial tip-off moments before the game began.
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“The support here has been awesome,” Jung said. “And the support I’ve had from some of the surrounding communities, too. I’ve had so many friends from every community. Even now, when I’m not doing a lot of AD work, they still stop, talk to me and show respect. It’s great.”
A standout athlete himself, Jung played both basketball and football for the Tigers and held the record for most points in a game with 42, a mark that stood for 55 years until it was broken in 2021.
And while on that night the Tigers didn’t come away with a victory, the moment underscored a career rooted in impact rather than results.
“One thing that kept me here was the educational system,” Jung said. “My first superintendent said to me, ‘Could you ever imagine if New England could put out a doctor?’ So we started implementing upper-level classes, and now many people have gone into the medical field. It makes you feel good. When you educate someone, give them a little head start, and they come back and thank you – that’s what it’s about.”
Carter is a sports reporter for the Dickinson Press. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2025 with a journalism degree.
