There may be some confusion for those reading this blog. The only point of that confusion is that it may seem like a sports blog. And in a lot of ways, it is.
 
The story, however, is about taking a chance, following your passion, and as one of the two person this is about said, "trusting in God." It is also about sacrifice, and not necessarily about the person you may initially think this blog is 100 percent about.
 
And we will get to that point further along in this piece. So, without much more commentary, please know that Bridgeport High School has not just a state high school coach of the year on board, but they also now have a national coach of the year on their personnel roster.
 
This week, the National Federation of State High School Associations sent a letter to the 26330 zip code informing a residence there that BHS boys basketball Coach Dave Marshall has been named the organization's 2024-25 national boys basketball coach of the year. It comes on the heels of him winning the Van Meter Award last year as the top coach in the Mountain State in all sports.
 
The letter mentions the nomination came from the WVSSAC. It is based on the 2024-25 coaching effort of Marshall that saw him help lead the Indians to the school's third state boys basketball championship.
 
"The letter came in the mail (Thursday). I really had forgotten about being nominated for it after we got the state award and the application process done for the national award … Since then, because of basketball, I never gave it another thought," said Marshall. "I saw the letterhead and thought I was going to be asked to join a committee or something of that nature, and I nearly tore it up. When I read it, I was humbled."
 
The first person to know about it was his wife Michele, the person where this blog is going to dive into shortly. Her reaction is what one might expect for someone who has stood by their spouse through the headaches, heartaches, joy, and triumphs that come from anyone willing to dip their toes into the coaching pool.
 
"Michele got teary-eyed. She said that I did it. I told her that it was both of us and that God used both of us for His purposes," Marshall said. "He's put me in the path of mentors and great assistants and some many wonderful students, like this year and last year, and every team prior. I guess it's a lifetime achievement award, but you don't stick around this long without good kids, and I've been blessed with plenty."
 
The 1985 Liberty High School graduate's path in coaching goes back 35 years. He started coaching in 1991 as the girls coach at Gore Junior High (Google Junior High if you are not sure what that is) under Principal Bill Montgomery who Marshall still credits for being the right guy to get started under.


READ THE REST OF THE BLOG HERE  https://www.connect-bridgeport.com/connect.cfm?func=view§ion=Blogs&item=ToquiNotes-BHS-has-a-National-Coach-of-Year-and-Unconditional-Support-by-a-Spouse-Made-it-Possible61871