News Release 07-108-D

Riverhawks finish in post season; coaches honored

UCC’s women’s head basketball coach enters California juco hoops hall of fame

	News Release 07-108-D	For more information:
	Release date: 04/03/08	Bentley Gilbert
	For immediate release	(541) 440-7747
	http://www.umpqua.edu/ 

Winchester— Umpqua Community College’s women’s basketball head coach Dave Stricklin has been selected by the California Community College Women's Basketball Association to be inducted into their Hall of Fame.

Stricklin was inducted at the junior college basketball Championship Festival held last month (March 2008) in Stockton, California, which features their Men's and Women's Final Four and Sophomore Showcases.

Before he was hired at UCC, Stricklin coached at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California, where his teams won two California State Championships as well as seven league championships; he had seven Final Four appearances. In his last year at Golden West, Stricklin's team finished as state runner up before losing in the finals to LA Harbor College. While coaching in California, Stricklin's teams averaged 32 wins per year over the eight years. He won 88 straight home games; he never lost at home.

“Coach Stricklin has been a wonderful coach for our girls,” said UCC athletic director Cheryl Yoder. “As you can see, we were pretty certain we were getting a star when we asked him to join us.

“Part of what makes Dave so special is that he coaches his teams to victory on the court, sees that his team members are academic stars, too, and places them in outstanding four-year programs.”

With UCC's win over Portland Community College on January 5, Coach Dave Stricklin recorded his 575th career victory. Even more impressive than the sheer number of wins is his .843 overall winning percentage. Stricklin's teams have notched 18 seasons at least 25 wins and has had seven seasons of at least 30 wins.

In 2007, Stricklin was honored with the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (WBCA) Russell Athletic Victory Club Award. Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls.

“This has been a very successful season for both the men's and women's basketball programs,” Yoder said. “Both coaches, Dave Stricklin and men’s head basketball coach Donell Morgan were voted Coach of the Year by our league.”

The UCC men went on to finish their season with a 24-6 record, won the Southern Region Championships of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC), and took third at the NWAACC Championships in the Tri-Cities, Washington.

The Riverhawks women finished their season with a 26-6 record, took second place in the Southern Region Championships, and were eliminated without placing at the NWAACC Championships.

For more information, please contact Bentley Gilbert, UCC community relations director, at 541.440.7747, or Cheryl Yoder, UCC athletic director, at 541.440.7729.