Bale Named Salem-Keizer's College Coach of the Year

Dave Bale assists student Mike Lovely on the new circuit training equipment Photo Courtesy: Corban

SALEM - Corban College women`s basketball coach Dave Bale was honored on Friday when he was named College Coach of the Year for the Salem-Keizer area by the Salem Sports & Breakfast Club`s Board of Directors.

Bale received the Chuck Bowles Coach of the Year award at the Salem Sports & Breakfast Club during its annual awards breakfast at Goudy Commons on the campus of Willamette University.

This is the first time that a Corban coach has received this award since former men`s basketball coach Tim Hills won it in 1977.

This past season, Bale guided the women`s basketball program to a 25-7 overall record and a record of 14-4 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. The team`s win total equals the most ever by a women`s basketball squad, while its overall record breaks the mark for winning percentage in a single season thanks to a final tally of .781.

Despite health problems during the season, Bale guided the Warriors to a semifinal appearance in the conference tournament and a program-best ranking of 16th in NAIA Division II on January 11th. Corban appeared in every national coaches` poll during the 2005-06 season.

In four seasons at the helm, Bale has guided Corban to an overall record of 80-46, including back-to-back 20-win seasons, one conference tournament title, and two national tournament appearances.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports