On The Green - Ty Orton

If Golfing and coaching Basketball have one thing is common, its that they both *look* easy, but ...  More »

If Golfing and coaching Basketball have one thing is common, its that they both *look* easy, but they aren't. However, one man in 'the Queen City' is doing his best to look like a 'king' at both! Here's Dan Williamson with 'On the Green.' (Billboard:) On The Green is sponsored by BNC National Bank and Bismarck Lumber. (Dan Williamson:) We are 'On the Green' this week and we are at 'Heart River Golf Course' in Dickinson and our guest is a man who knows a little bit about golf balls and basketballs. Head Men's Basketball Coach at Dickinson State, Ty Orton, and Ty - I understand that you can play some golf and play some basketball - which sport comes easier to you. (Ty Orton:) I'd say that basketball probably comes a little easier just because I have been around it more of my life and I'm a little bit more comfortable in that type of environment. (Dan Williamson:) First, if you want to tell us a little bit about your background in golf, how did you get involved in playing golf? (Ty Orton:) Really, it was with my junior college basketball coach. He started going out there and with the team and showing them a few things and that is kind of how I just started doing it. (Dan Williamson:) And you have been playing basketball, as well as golf and now you are the head coach at Dickinson State and you have been here in Dickinson about a year - how has it gone so far? (Ty Orton:) We love it, my wife and I and my new son Tristen - we just love it here. There are great people around and the coaching staff and the athletic director and everything - it is a great environment for us to be in and we are pretty excited about the upcoming team that we have coming in too. (Dan Williamson:) Talk about last year's team - what stood out to you on the positive side? (Ty Orton:) We had a hard working team with guys that just did everything that they could on and off the floor. They really worked as hard as they could. We didn't have quite the talent as some of the other teams, but they competed as hard as they could and they did everything that they could on and off the floor, every single day, and that is what made me proud and set the foundation for a strong program? (Dan Williamson:) And how does your golf game fit into all that - what are your expectations as far as continuing to play that sport in the years to come? (Ty Orton:) I think golf is a great release and it teaches a person about everything in life - you have to have patience in order to do it - but you also have to be able ot have a short-term memory. If you hit a bad shot, you have to forget about it and move to the next shot and it helps you a lot with a lot of things in your life. Coach Orton is 'loving life' right now thanks to some of the additions in the offseason, including Tate Kick's transfer from the University of Mary.  « Less