A Message from Coach D.

In my youth, I missed out on several life-changing opportunities where having knowledgeable mentors to help guide me through critical decisions would have made a huge difference. With those experiences in mind, I founded I Am DOPE (Developing Ownership of Personal Empowerment) to help young people access opportunities that nurture their interests, refine essential life skills, and expand their network of mentors, who are high-performing professionals in their fields, and can provide guidance on life, education, and future careers. Having coached basketball for nearly 20 years, I see the synergy between the I Am DOPE mission and sports as a powerful way to maximize our impact on the lives of our players.

-- Coach D.

Meet Our Coaches

Coach Delfiscio (D.) McDonald

Program Director & High School Head Coach

With nearly two decades of coaching experience, Coach D. McDonald has helped young athletes develop their skills, basketball IQ, and confidence. Since 2006, he has coached club and recreational teams, specializing in position-specific training, fundamentals, and game strategy for boys and girls.

As head coach of Excelsior Classical Academy’s middle school boys’ team, he led them to the 2020 Triangle North Athletic Conference (TNAC) Championship in just his second season. In 2021, he founded IAD Basketball. which became the Bull City Bruins in 2023. Several players from his inaugural 14U team still compete for the Bruins at the 17U level, a testament to his commitment to long-term player growth.

Under Coach D.'s leadership, players receive elite instruction, competitive opportunities, and mentorship to succeed on and off the court. Families can expect a program that builds winners—both in basketball and in life.

Coach Michelle Dalton

17U Girls Head Coach

Coach Michelle Dalton brings passion, experience, and purpose to the Bull City Bruins and Lady Bruins programs. She has lived the game of basketball since age 9, playing at Aycock Middle School, W.H. Page High School as a JV and Varsity Point Guard, and later at High Point University, where she deepened her understanding of leadership and the game.

Coach Dalton’s coaching journey began by mentoring her son and grew into coaching athletes ages 9–16 at the Orange County Recreation Center and with the Bull City Bruins Lady Bruins. She currently serves as the Head Coach of the Girls Varsity Basketball team at Excelsior Classical Academy, where she is committed to developing confident leaders and strengthening the culture of women’s basketball.

As a coach, she emphasizes fundamentals, basketball IQ, accountability, and teamwork while challenging players to grow through preparation and consistent effort. Off the court, Coach Dalton focuses on character, confidence, leadership, and resilience. She is proud to coach with 3DAWGS and the Bull City Bruins because of the program’s family atmosphere and commitment to developing young people — not just athletes — for success in life beyond basketball.