WOODLAWN — Dawson Verhines was a major part of a great run for Woodlawn Cardinals basketball as a player from 2008-2011. Now, he will try to lead the Cardinals in a different way.

The Woodlawn school board has hired Verhines to be the next boys head basketball coach, replacing Brian Gamber, who left to take over as the Rend Lake men’s head basketball coach.

Verhines helped lead the Cardinals to 86 wins and two state trophies in a three year span from 2008-2011. The Cardinals finished second in 2009 and third in 2011. After high school, Verhines went on to play at Rend Lake College, where he helped the Warriors win the NJCAA Division 2 national championship in 2013. He then went on to SIU, where he played in 63 games in two seasons as a Saluki.