Denly inducted into Southwestern College Athletics Hall of Fame

coach denly

Bellevue University women's basketball coach Dave Denly was honored over the weekend with induction into the Southwestern College Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2022.

Denly was one of five inductees welcomed into the 2022 Class on Saturday morning and introduced at the Homecoming football game later that afternoon.

Denly began coaching Southwestern College women's basketball in 1998 and, after 18 seasons at the helm, he became the all-time winningest coach in Lady Builder history. He finished his SC career with an overall record of 348-171. He has continued his coaching at Bellevue (Neb.) with a 111-73 record. 

While at SC, Denly's teams enjoyed a tremendous amount of team and individual success. He led SC to seven straight 20-win seasons, and seven NAIA National Tournament appearances including five straight appearances, sweet 16 in 2004, and a final eight appearance in 2014. His teams were nationally ranked in eight straight seasons, including a #6 final poll ranking in 2014. Denly was named KCAC Coach of the Year in 2004, 2012, and 2014. He coached 10 NAIA All-Americans, three KCAC Player of the Year recipients, 24 KCAC First Team All-Conference players, 48 NAIA Academic All-Americans, and 84 KCAC Academic All-Conference athletes. Denly is currently ranked as the 12th-winningest active coach in the NAIA.  Denly also served as Southwestern's athletic director from 2009-15. He and his wife, Sara, have two children, Ben (18) and Abbey (16). 

The lone women's basketball coach in BU history, will guide the Bruins in their seventh season which begins next Friday with the Chick-fil-A Classic.