BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - Bloomsburg University head football coach, and West Chester University alum, Danny Hale, announced his retirement Friday afternoon at a press conference. Assistant head coach Paul Darragh will assume the role of interim head coach for the 2013 season.
Hale, one of the winningest coaches in Division II, completed his 20th season at Bloomsburg and his 25th overall in coaching in 2012. At Bloomsburg, Hale posted a record of 173-56-1 (.754) and holds the school record for most coaching victories. In 25 years as a head coach, he had a mark of 213-69-1 (.754) and ranked in the top five among active coaches in NCAA Division II in winning percentage and victories at the end of last season.
Hale was a three-year letterwinner for West Chester University’s football squad at defensive end from 1965-67, leading the Golden Rams to the State Championship in 1967 and back-to-back appearances in the Tangerine Bowl in 1966 and 1967. He was named MVP of the State Championship Game in 1967, leading West Chester to a 27-7 victory over Clarion.
In 1984, Hale returned to his alma mater to assume the head coaching reigns. In five years along West Chester’s sideline, Hale authored a 40-13 record, won two PSAC Eastern Division titles, made a pair of appearances in the State Championship Game and guided the Golden Rams to the NCAA II Playoffs for the first time in school history in 1988. West Chester went 27-3 against PSAC East competition during Hale’s five-year run.
WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY REACTION TO COACH HALE'S RETIREMENT
Bill Zwaan
West Chester Head Coach
“It is a sad day for college football and the West Chester community. Coach Hale still holds a special place in all of our hearts at WCU.”
Dr. Edward Matejkovic (WCU '69)
Director of Athletics and former teammate of Coach Hale's
“He put together a great coaching career. It will certainly be a loss to the coaching ranks. He was a great coach, but more importantly, he is a great person.”
Gerald Toney (WCU '92)
West Chester University Assistant Football Coach and former DB for Coach Hale
“He is one of the all-time winningest coaches in Division II. He knew how to win. One thing you knew as an opposing coach is that his teams were going to be prepared to win. As a player for him, he was a player’s coach. Everybody wants to play for a player’s coach. He had that charisma.
