Gary Bailey (r) is national coach of the year.

Grace Bible College men’s basketball coach and Cedar Springs resident Gary Bailey has been named the 2011 NCCAA II “National Coach of the Year.”  This year Bailey guided the Tigers to their third straight NCCAA II National Championship and the school’s fourth National Championship in the last six years.  This is the second time that Bailey has received this honor.  He also received the award in 2009.  Bailey has been named the NCCAA II Midwest Region “Coach of the Year” for four consecutive years from 2008-2011.

“This has been a great run for Grace basketball,” said Bailey.  “It is a great honor to receive this award.  As I have said many times, this award should be presented to the entire coaching staff.  All of our staff contributes to the success of this program.  Dan George, Kyle Bohl, Kent Karnemaat, David Oldebekking, and John Bailey all play a major role in what we do all year.”  Dan George is also a Cedar Springs resident.

Bailey is the all-time win leader at GBC with 148 wins in his six years at the helm and is averaging 24.7 wins per season.  This season the Tigers broke the regular season win mark with 25 and the season win mark with 31 finishing the year at 31-7.