SENECA - The 2017 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame Induction will be held in the Glacier Canyon Lodge of the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells on Saturday, September 30.
Growing up on a farm near Seneca with his family, athletics were a huge part of David Boland’s life. His parents, Michael and Jeanne, strongly supported education, promoted belief in God and modeled a never-quit attitude that had a profound influence upon their seven children.
At Seneca High School, David competed in three sports, including basketball, and graduated in 1979. He then attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
While at UW-Platteville, Boland played football for two years under George Chryst, which contributed greatly to his coaching philosophy.
After receiving his degree in physical education, Boland began teaching at the Seneca Area School District in 1989. He was the Seneca athletic director from 1993 -2000. He earned his master’s degree in 2005 and assumed administrative duties at Seneca in 2007, becoming District Administrator in 2009.
David began coaching boys’ basketball at Seneca High School in 1986, directing the junior varsity team for two years before becoming varsity coach in 1988.
Throughout the years, a very supportive community and hardworking players led to the development of a consistently strong program. From 1988 through 2017, Seneca had a record of 455 wins and 212 losses, winning 68 percent of their games. During that span, the Indians won eight conference championships, six regional championships, two sectional championships and finished second in the state in 2003.
Seneca had teams ranked first in the state in 2002 and 2017. The Indians led the state in scoring defense four times. Ten Seneca players have been selected as conference ‘Player of the Year’ and seven players have been selected to play in the WBCA All-Star game.
The coaching staff, which includes long-time assistant Al Bark, received numerous Ridge and Valley Conference ‘Coach of the Year’ recognitions and the La Crosse Tribune ‘Coach of the Year’ in 2001. In 1997, David Boland was an assistant coach for the WBCA Division 3-4 South All-Star team. He was head coach for the 2006 WBCA Division 4 South All-Stars and from 2000-2015 he was a member of the WBCA Division 4 and 5 All-Star selection committee.
For 21 years at Seneca, Boland was also an assistant football coach, working many of those years alongside Wisconsin High School Football Hall of Fame Coach Pat Connors. Seneca football teams went to the playoffs 16 times during that period and won seven conference championships.
In 1983, David married his wife, Ann, and together they have four children. He is grateful for the many years of support she has given the Seneca basketball program.
David Boland was fortunate enough to have coached his sons, Kyle and Kilian, during his career. He also coached his daughters, Kirsten and Kalli, during summer basketball programs. His experiences working with his children in athletics are among his most cherished memories. His children, their spouses and his grandchildren are central to his life. He appreciates the sacrifices his family had made over the years to allow him to coach.
David Boland shares this award with his family, his former players, the Seneca community and all those who have coached in the Seneca basketball program. This recognition would not be possible without a strongly supportive community and many very good players, which David is extremely appreciate of. Thank you to the WBCA for recognizing our basketball program.
Congratulations, David, as the WBCA welcomes you into their 2017 Hall of Fame as a ‘High School Coach.’
