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Bowen Received the NABC Outstanding Service Award

UW-River Falls' Rick Bowen was presented the National Association of Basketball Coaches Outstanding Service Award at the Division III meeting of this year's NABC Convention in San Antonio, Texas, in April.

The award has been presented annually since 1997 and is given to coaches whose actions “inside and outside the lines” of coaching have distinguished them as valuable members of their communities.

“The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is delighted and proud that Rick has been recognized for his exceptional contributions to our basketball program and to the growth and development of our students,” said Chancellor Don Betz. “Rick is passionate about sports and equally committed to educating the next generation of citizens and leaders. Rick is a valued leader in our university and our community. His enthusiasm for the university's future impacts all those who know him. Rick is a genuine colleague and friend. All of us at UW-River Falls salute him and his lifetime of contributions to sport and education.”

Bowen is synonymous with UW-River Falls basketball. He is the winningest coach in UWRF history and, from 1986-2006, he directed the Falcons to 265 victories. In 2003- 04, he led UWRF to a WIAC Championship and was also named the WIAC Coach of the Year and the NABC West Region Coach of the Year.

Bowen spent three years as the only coach in the WIAC doing double-duty service as a coach and director of athletics. He also served as an interim athletic director for two years. He was named UWRF's full-time athletic director in April 2006.

O'Grady Named to WFCA Hall of Fame

Falcon head football Coach John O'Grady was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in April.

The WFCA inducts those who are outstanding achievers at the college level. Selection criteria is based on record, longevity, and service to WFCA. It is a prestigious honor and the most recognized in Wisconsin at all levels of the football community.

“It is a real honor to be selected to the WFCA Hall of Fame,” said O'Grady. “With names like Mike Farley, Jerome Fishbain, Ted Thompson and Don Page, to name a few, it is quite humbling. The WFCA recognizes not only those with great records but also those who have devoted a great deal of time and energy to the great sport of football. I think I fit the latter category. From the first time I put pads on in the sixth grade at St. Jerome grade school in Chicago, football has been my passion. My world is filled with former players and coaching colleagues. They have all helped me to look at my profession as a vocation rather than a job. I am one of the lucky ones who rarely isn't excited to get to work in the morning.”

Farley was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1994, Fishbain in 1995, Thompson in 2003 and Page in 2004.

O'Grady finished his 19th year as UWRF head coach last fall. He has a 98-89-3 overall record and his teams are 70- 63-3 in WIAC games.

O'Grady stands second in all-time football wins at UWRF. Among WIAC active coaches he is second in wins and is seventh in all-time wins of all WIAC coaches. In WIAC play O'Grady has led the Falcons to one first-place finish (1998), three second-place finishes (1994, 1995, 1996) and five third-place finishes (1989, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001). He has had winning seasons in 10 of his 19 seasons with the Falcons.

O'Grady was named the 1995 WIAC Coach of the Year.

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