SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 5
(By Senators Cline and Plymale)
[Introduced January 10, 2019]
Requesting the Division of Highways to place signs at the following Interstate exits in Beckley: I‑77 north bound at mile marker 42.5, I-77 south bound at mile marker 47.8, and I-64 west bound at mile marker 125.2, in Raleigh County, West Virginia, signifying Beckley as the “Home of Coach Bob Bolen Mountain State University 2004 NAIA Champions”.
Whereas, Coach Bob Bolen was born August 28, 1963, in Beckley; and
Whereas, From 1986 to 1988, Coach Bolen was a mathematics teacher and head boys’ basketball coach at Park School in Beckley, where his record was 31-5 and they were regular season champions; and
Whereas, From 1989 to 1993, Coach Bolen was head coach, junior varsity/assistant varsity at Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, where in 1990, 1992, and 1993 they were AAA state champions; and
Whereas, From 1993 to 2012, Coach Bolen was director of athletics and head men’s basketball coach at Mountain State University in Beckley. From 2013 to 2015, he was assistant basketball coach at East Tennessee State University. Beginning in 2015 to the present, he has served as an ESPN analyst and Marshall University TV analyst; and
Whereas, Coach Bolen was head coach of the only national championship won by a men’s basketball team in West Virginia in the last 71 years. He holds the most all-time wins for a collegiate coach in West Virginia, with 489 wins. He has the highest winning percentage of any coach at any collegiate level this decade, winning 87 percent of his games; and
Whereas, Coach Bolen’s record includes: A career record 489 wins with 125 losses; 2010 NABC NAIA National Coach of the Year; 2004 NABC NAIA National Coach of the Year; 2004 West Virginia College Coach of the Year; 2004 Basketball Times National Coach of the Year; Regional Independent Coach of the year, 13 times; ranked number one 48 times since 2000 NAIA National Poll; forty-nine consecutive weeks ranked in the top five in the country; twelve consecutive 25-win seasons, 2001 – 2012; number one scoring offense in country, six times; top five scoring offense in country for 17 consecutive seasons; and number one field goal percentage defense, three times; and
Whereas, Coach Bolen’s collegiate yearly records are:
2011 – 2012 26-9 Record, NAIA Final Four
2010 – 2011 33-4 Record, NAIA National Tournament Runner Up
2009 – 2010 29-3 Record, #3 NAIA Final National Poll, NAIA “Sweet 16”
2008 – 2009 28-5 Record, #3 NAIA Final National Poll, NAIA “Sweet 16”
2007 – 2008 34-3 Record, NAIA National Tournament Runner Up
2006 – 2007 27-6 Record, #4 NAIA Final National Poll;
2005 – 2006 29-3 Record, #1 NAIA Final National Poll, NAIA “Sweet 16”
2004 – 2005 31-4 Record, #1 NAIA Final National Poll, NAIA “Elite 8”
2003 – 2004 38-1 Record, NAIA National Champions
2002 – 2003 32-7 Record, NAIA National Tournament Runner Up
2001 – 2002 27-6 Record, #5 NAIA Final National Poll, “Sweet 16”
2000 – 2001 25-5 Record, #6 NAIA Final National Poll
1999 – 2000 22-9 Record, #20 NAIA Final National Poll
1998 – 1999 29-6 Record, #12 NAIA Final National Poll, “Sweet 16”
1994 – 1998 79-54 Record, #22 NAIA Final National Poll; and
Whereas, It is fitting that signs be placed at those Beckley exits proclaiming that Beckley is Coach Bolen’s hometown, a man who brought national attention to his city and his state and touched the lives of many athletes, students, fans, and residents of Beckley; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to place signs at the following Interstate exits in Beckley: I‑77 north bound at mile marker 42.5, I-77 south bound at mile marker 47.8, and I-64 west bound at mile marker 125.2, in Raleigh County, West Virginia, signifying Beckley as the “Home of Coach Bob Bolen Mountain State University 2004 NAIA Champions”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying Beckley as the “Home of Coach Bob Bolen Mountain State University 2004 NAIA Champions”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.