Dave Bale returned for his second stint as the head coach of the Corban women's basketball team during the 2013-14 season after leading Corban to new heights during his first five seasons.
Bale, who is the program's all-time leader in winning percentage, returns for his seventh season as head coach of the Warriors during the 2014-15 campaign.
"You don't get many second chances," said Bale. "When I stepped in 2007, I told those who asked I would probably coach again, but I really wasn't sure if God would ever open the door again."
From 2002-07, Bale helped lead Corban to a win-loss record of 107-53 that included three straight 20-plus win seasons. During his tenure, the Warriors also earned three trips to the NAIA Division II National Tournament, captured two Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Tournament titles, and won a conference regular-season crown.
During his first season in 2002-03, Bale guided then-Western Baptist to a third-place finish in the final league standings before advancing to the conference tournament title game where the Warriors finished second to regular season champions Southern Oregon and earned the program's second-ever trip to the NAIA National Tournament.
Two years later, Bale led Corban to a fifth place finish in the conference before relying off three straight wins against Concordia, Eastern Oregon, and Albertson College of Idaho in the post-season tournament to earn the program's third trip to the NAIA Tournament.
In his final season as head coach of the Warriors, Bale led Corban to a single-season school-record 27 wins and concluded the regular season tied with Eastern Oregon for first place in the conference standings thanks to identical records of 15-3 in league play for the program's first-ever CCC regular season title. In the conference tournament, Bale and the Warriors defeated Concordia and Albertson at home to earn the league's second automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament. In the tournament's championship game against No. 1-seeded Eastern Oregon, Bale guided the Warriors to a dramatic 59-58 victory for the team's 11th straight win, tying the program's record for longest winning streak.
Thanks to his coaching efforts during the 2006-07 season, Bale was named CCC Coach of the Year and also earned his second-straight Salem Breakfast Club's Coach of the Year award at the collegiate level.
"I love the game, I love teaching the game, I love the challenge of preparing a group, and those who know me know I love to compete," added Bale. "I want to thank Dr. Nord, Dr. Lucas, and our Athletic administration in their vote of confidence in selecting me."
Along with coaching the women's program for five seasons, Bale also assisted Western Baptist's men's program for three seasons (1999-2002) under former head coach Tim Collins. Bale's coaching experiences prior to Corban includes stints at the University of Puget Sound, Arizona State University, Warner Pacific College, Judson Baptist College, and Washington State University. Bale has coached at the collegiate level for 25 years after playing college basketball at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Bale, who also serves as the Chair of the Human Performance Department at Corban, currently resides in Salem with his wife, Shelia. The couple currently attends Salem Alliance Church.
