Dennis Bower graduated from Deer Park, Washington in 1977 with his high school sweetheart and soul mate, Sharon. Dennis has had a passion for basketball since his days spent as a child in Indiana.
Basketball approaches a religious level and his passion for this great game was created.
After graduation, Dennis and Sharon attended Central Washington whereby they both graduated with teacher education degrees. After a
brief playing career on the junior varsity at CWU, Dennis began his coaching career. During this time he became great friends with the late Gil Coleman and WIBCA Hall of Famer, who at the time was helping coach CWU Junior Varsity. Dennis met Gil in the legendary coaching giant Dean Nicholson’s basketball methods class. After an injury forced him permanently to the sidelines he helped Gil coach the JV’s, and the very next year took over the program by himself. He directed CWU’s JV to their most successful season ever, while at the same time sitting at the side of Hall of Famer Coach Nicholson, and closely watching and learning how the master coached.
With degrees earned, Sharon and Dennis taught for two years at Northport, a small school in northeast Washington. Dennis taught business education, coached both basketball and baseball while Sharon taught fifth grade. She was also the cheerleading advisor for three years. At Northport they both met remarkable people who they still stay in touch with today. Recently, at Dennis’ basketball court presentation members of his first team traveled all the way to honor him in the dedication.
After their second year, Gil Coleman successfully recruited both of them to Onalaska, as he accepted the Juanita High School basketball job. They were both reluctant to leave Northport, but the possibilities presented at Onalaska were too much to ignore. Upon both being offered jobs, they agreed that it was going to be a two year job.
Nevertheless, because of the community, the area, the great schools and people, it would become a 30 year plus endeavor. Sharon would eventually teach several grade levels and then become the elementary principal for five years. She would eventually earn her superintendent credentials. She has been the superintendent at one of Onalaska’s chief basketball rivals, the Toledo Indians for the past eight years.
In the early 90’s, Dennis took a three year absence to coach in Chehalis at W.F. West High School. At Chehalis, he enjoyed the success winning the tough Black Hills League as well as the District championship the first two years. The Bearcats qualified for state two years and placed fifth the second year. He won coach of the year both years as being honored as WIBCA coach of the year.
Though Dennis extremely enjoyed coaching at W.F. West, family came first. He decided to take advantage of the opportunity to move back to Onalaska to accept the Athletic Administrators job. His two young daughters were just starting to play youth sports and he felt that moving back to Onalaska would allow him to be more involved. Once back at Onalaska, it was only a matter of time before he was back in the saddle coaching Logger basketball.
Dennis has achieved much success throughout his thirty year career. He has been honored coach of the year 16 times. Likewise, he has been honored at the Daily Chronicle All-Area Coach of the Year three times. During the 2007, year Dennis was honored by the SWW 1A League District Tournament Committee as Coach of the Decade (1998-2007) during its 50th Anniversary celebration. Coach Bower’s teams have won 17 League Championships, 7 District Championships, and one Regional Championship. He led 15 teams to the State Tournaments, placing five times.
Between the years 2009-2012, he coached the Onalaska Loggers to a record 35 straight league wins. After this past season, Dennis’ overall win loss record is 517 wins vs. 195 losses for a .7261 winning percentage.
Dennis is particularly proud of his family. First of all, he is proud of his wife who is successfully defeating breast cancer and is an amazing leader in the educational field. His daughters went on to have very successful high school and college athletic careers, Brittney exceled in volleyball at Whitworth University, while Alida was an all- conference basketball player at Whitworth. Dennis was pleased when both married all-league basketball players from Whitworth, keeping the hardwood tradition in the family. Brittney and her husband Jon Young have provided Sharon and Dennis with the two most amazing grandchildren. Britt and Jon have successful careers in Eugene, Oregon. Alida taught and coached basketball at Napavine, and led the Lady Tigers to two state appearances while being honored by her peers as coach of the year her second year. She is married to her college sweetheart Calvin Jurich, who works at Nike Headquarters. They live in Beaverton, Oregon, and Alida is teaching third grade in the Evergreen School District in Vancouver.
Dennis is also very proud of more than the 148 players he has coached at in Northport, W.F. West, and Onalaska. They have provided great memories and deserve all the credit for all of his success. Likewise, he is extremely proud of the many players who have gone on to coach and give back to the great game of basketball. Just a few of the many are: G.E. Coleman, the Associate Head Coach at CWU; Brandon Rinta, Head Coach at Lewis and Clark State in Idaho, who was recently name the NAIA Coach of the Year; Rex Stanley, the highly successful coach at Napavine; and Spud (Kyle) Stanley, who just completed his first year at Rainier.
Presently, Dennis has two former assistants helping him, Daniel Kelly and Sean Hadaller. A third former player, Kyle Smaciarz coaches his junior high team.
This past season, Dennis received the ultimate honor. The Onalaska School Board and community resurfaced the high school’s gym floor and named it, Dennis Bower’s Court! This honor was led by the efforts of Dennis’ long time best friend, score keeper, and the best youth tournament director ever, Rock Stanley. Dennis is the first to admit that he has truly been blessed.
