Dorsey High Reunites Athletics Alumni and Looks to the Future

The 1982 City Section football champions from Dorsey High walked onto the stage with a youthful confidence. Despite the years, it felt as if they never left the school’s courtyard. Alumni and family joined in celebration at Dorsey’s first full athletics reunion. Cheerleaders from the 1976 championship basketball team also performed. Upcoming sports teams for the 2026-27 school year were introduced alongside their families. Hundreds gathered to celebrate the school’s legacy and future.

Dorsey has seen significant changes since the century’s turn. It transitioned from a well-attended school with a thriving athletics program to one less prominent in Los Angeles. The last football championship victory was in 2001. In 2002, enrollment peaked at 2,211 students, according to Public School Review. Now, enrollment has decreased to 792 students, US News reports, and the athletic teams aim to reclaim their powerhouse status.

Former football head coach Paul Knox proposed a solution. He organized a celebration for Dorsey athletics alumni, focusing on the future. On Saturday, hundreds of current and former Dorsey Dons attended the reunion. There were shared stories, old photos, laughter, and connections made by people who hadn’t been to the campus in decades. Alumni from as far back as the 1950s participated. Knox led tours of the school’s renovations, highlighting the new football stadium and basketball gym.

Later, the current teams were introduced, along with the 1976 City championship basketball team. Knox aimed to showcase both the past and the present. He hasn’t coached at Dorsey since 2014 but was inspired by the alumni’s pride. “The atmosphere here, the pride everybody has in the school in general … it’s one of the most passionate alumni groups you’re going to experience,” Knox said.

Dorsey’s enrollment decline mirrors trends across California. Public school enrollment is down, including a drop of over 16,000 in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Private and charter schools rise in academics and athletics, leaving schools like Dorsey, which once dominated, behind.

Dorsey High alum and former major leaguer Don Buford attended the reunion. Graduated in 1955, he engaged with other alumni, sharing memories. Buford sat under a large ficus tree, its roots exposed. Reflecting on the tree’s growth, Buford noted, “When I went here, this was just a little tree.”

For 80 years, Dorsey students watched the seedling grow into a significant feature. Knox and the school administration see this reunion as a start to revitalizing athletics and the entire school. “The passion is there,” said Knox. “We’re really hoping to inspire the teams now, to show them there’s depth behind the things they do.”

Beyond the main goal, the event brought joy to the Dorsey community. Former players reunited with coaches. Many introduced themselves to legendary alumni. Finding a face without a smile was nearly impossible.

The day also provided current Dorsey students opportunities to see what lies ahead, whether in sports or other fields. Former champions stood alongside what Dorsey hopes are future champions. Baseball alumni wore shirts stating “Legacy of Greatness … Five Rings, One Legacy” to commemorate their most recent 2014 championship. Such signs and a large display of Dorsey’s championships underscored the event’s message: the school seeks to revive its history of success.

“Once you go here, you get that feeling,” Knox noted. Amid fanfare, the man handing out raffle tickets perfectly summed up the sentiment: “It’s a great day to be a Don.”