Corban's Bale Resigns, Williams Announced as Head Basketball Coach

Through this past weekend with a record of 13-5 this season, Bale has guided the Warriors to an overall record of 93-51 in four-plus seasons.

Head coach Dave Bale will leave Corban at the end of the season after 5 seasons at the helm that includes two trips to the national tournament, one conference post-season tournament crown, and nearly 100 career victories. Photo courtesy: Corban Sports Information

SALEM - Citing the need to give more time to his academic responsibilities and family, current head women’s basketball coach Dave Bale has announced his resignation effective at the end of the season.

Corban College’s Director of Athletics John Nelson announced Tuesday that former head coach Terry Williams has been named as the new head women’s basketball coach at Corban College.

“Coach Bale has done an outstanding job of not only maintaining one of the best women's basketball programs in the area but making it stronger,” said Nelson.

“The dynamic of Coach Williams returning to an even stronger program that he originally built speaks to the quality character, skill, and passion both men have for the young women fortunate to play Warrior basketball.”

Bale leaves the helm following five seasons on the bench in which he guided the Warriors to back-to-back 20-win seasons and two separate trips to the NAIA Division II national tournament.

During Bale’s third season in 2005-06, Corban captured its second-ever Cascade Collegiate Conference post-season tournament title.

Last season, Bale guided Corban to its best winning season ever thanks to an overall 25-7 mark.

Bale’s Warriors set the new winning percentage mark at .781, which surpassed the old mark set in 1996-97.

Through this past weekend with a record of 13-5 this season, Bale has guided the Warriors to an overall record of 93-51 in four-plus seasons.

“This was a tough decision for me,” said Bale, who is also the head of the Human Performance department at Corban.

“I love coaching and Corban opened the door five years ago for my wife and me to remain in Salem, while doing what I love. I will miss the girls the most because over the past five years, they have become like family to my wife and I.”

Five years ago, Williams handed the reigns over to Bale and now the roles are reversed.

Williams returns to the bench where he guided then-Western Baptist to two straight National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national titles in 1995 & 1996.

William accumulated an overall record of 148-117 in eight seasons as the leader of the Warriors.

During the 2000-01 season, Williams coached the Warriors to a school-record 11-game winning streak from January 7th - February 2nd.

“I am excited to return as head coach of the Warriors,” said Williams. “I think that Dave has done an amazing job over the past five seasons and I look forward to continuing the excellence that Corban has achieved.”

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