Dale Kuhl

Head Coach

Dale Kuhl is a native of Milan, Ohio. He graduated from Tiffin University in 1992 with a degree in Sports Management. At the age of 21, Kuhl was hired as an Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at West Liberty State College in West Liberty, WV. The following year West Liberty named Kuhl as the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach and Academic Advisor, where he would serve until 1998. Kuhl came south in 1998 as he was hired by the University of South Carolina-Spartanburg as the Men's Assistant Basketball Coach and Academic Coordinator. He held this position until moving to Spartanburg Methodist as the Men's Head Basketball Coach in 2002. In addition to his Sports Management degree from Tiffin University, Kuhl earned his Masters Degree in Physical Education from West Virginia University in 1996. Dale has an extensive level of experience in the sports field and an accomplished basketball background. This is Kuhl's first year as head coach for the Wilmington Sea Dawgs.

Thaddeus Hill

Assistant Coach

Thaddeus Hill is a new addition the Wilmington Sea Dawgs coaching staff this year. Coach Hill was born in Ohio, but has spent time all over the country due to his involvement in basketball. Aside from coaching, he also works with the locally filmed TV show One Tree Hill as a basketball choreographer. Coach Hill attended high school in Charlotte at South Mecklenburg. He then moved on to play at Joliet Junior College before finishing his career as a forward for Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. A turning point in his life occurred when he was the driver of a car accident that broke his leg, arm, and jaw. The accident, which ended his competitive basketball days, was quoted by Coach Hill as "the best thing to ever happen to me”. Thaddeus lost a lot of weight because he had his jaw wired shut for months, which lead him to North Carolina for rehab. Shortly after his rehab, Coach Hill got married and moved back to North Carolina. This is when he decided to change his goals from continuing to pursue playing basketball to pursuing his love of coaching and teaching the sport. Coach Hill has held a variety of basketball coaching positions. He was the Director of basketball at the Midwest Basketball Academy in South Bend, Indiana. He also had a stint in the upstart Slam Ball League as a head coach before working with the Wilmington Sea Dawgs. Coach Hill enjoys playing an up-tempo style of basketball that is centered on strong defense and fundamentals. His coaching icons include Denny Crum, Al Maguire, and Dean Smith. He also enjoys spending as much time possible with his two kids, Christian and Thomas. If Thaddeus wasn't coaching, he stated that he would be a Sports Psychologist.

Ryan Mantlo

Assistant Coach

Ryan Mantlo has been coaching college basketball for four years as both an assistant and head coach. He is currently the head coach for the Cape Fear Community College Sea Devils. Mantlo is an accomplished player and leader who carries with him a degree from Liberty University in the area of Sports Management. As a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, Mantlo served as team captain leading the Flames basketball team to a Big South conference championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament. As a junior, Mantlo made an immediate impact on the Liberty basketball program by contributing record number of minutes played, a team-leading 81 assists, and a team-leading 57 steals. During the same year, Mantlo recorded a double-double against the University of Iowa with 10 points and 10 rebounds while also adding four steals against the Big Ten Conference powerhouse. As a senior with Liberty, Mantlo took over the roles of captain and point guard. His former coach Randy Dunton noted Mantlo's "leadership abilities on the court" and his "basketball savvy" as two of his main attributes. Mantlo led his team to an 18-15 record during the 2003-2004 season, a conference championship, and to an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament; a season and career highlight. Prior to Mantlo's arrival at Liberty University, he played at Eastern Wyoming Community College for former Liberty assistant coach Bob Davis, and, as a sophomore, was recognized as an all-conference, all-region, and all-tournament player. He averaged 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists per contest for Eastern Wyoming. He helped guide his team to a 29-6 record, a Wyoming Community College Athletic Conference Championship, and a Region IX Tournament runner-up spot in 2002-03. Coach Mantlo has posted numerous years of basketball experience during his stint in Grand Junction, Colorado. He not only brings with him his experience as a DI player, but his leadership knowledge and skills, his coaching involvement with Colorado State University, and a degree in Sports Management.

Rod Bell

Assistant Coach/Team Manager

Roderick Bell is a native of the Eastern Shore of Va. He is a graduate of Norfolk State University, where he attended on a track scholarship, where he ran the 100m, 200m, High Jump, Long Jump and Triple Jump. During his stint of his career at Norfolk State University, Coach Bell finish 3rd in the CIAA conference for three consecutive years in the High Jump (6’-8”) all while standing only 5’-10”. Coach Bell also had a short tryout with the Baltimore Ravens for Wide Receiver and Punt returner back in 1996, however due to injury, it was cut short. “When you run a 4.28 40yd dash, scouts tend to want you for those positions”, said Coach Bell. This is coach Bell’s 3rd year with the Wilmington Seadawgs. Coach Bell brings leadership, knowledge and skill. Basketball was always my first love. I was an All District, Region and State player in all three sports that I played in high school (Football, Basketball and Track), but basketball was my first love. Coach Bell in his free time host different Street Ball and Basketball tournaments throughout Virginia. Coach Bell currently works for GE (General Electric), prior to that he was a Project Manager for a construction company, where some of his projects that he was responsible for were the World War II Memorial and Capitol Visitor Center in Washington DC, Hospitals in Concord NC and Wilmington NC. Coach Bell is also in the Army National Guard, where he has served for over 18 ½ years. Coach Bell has a BS Degree from Norfolk State University in Building Construction Management and an MBA from Grantham University.