Fenwick High School girls basketball coach Dave Power to retire at the end of 2021-22 season
OAK PARK, Ill. (BVM) – Fenwick High School girls basketball head coach Dave Power is turning the page on his high school coaching career at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
And he’s leaving behind quite a career.
Powers has been coaching for the Friars for 29 years. He began coaching during the 1992-93 season and has made quite an impact since then. Power has elevated the girls basketball program to be regular contenders in the state tournament. In fact, the Friars have won 16 consecutive titles in the East Suburban Catholic Conference with Power at the helm.
Power has won two state championships coaching at Fenwick, in 2001 and 2007. Both of those state-championship teams finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation, according to USA Today.
The 2003 team finished runner-up in the state tournament, and the Friars finished in third both in 2000 and 2010.
He was named EA Sports National Coach of the Year in 2007 and Illinois State Basketball Coach of the Year in 1987, 2001 and 2007.
He has been inducted into three Halls of Fame: Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) in 2005, East Suburban Catholic Conference (ESCC) in 2006 (the inaugural class), and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association in 2005.
However, Power’s greatest accomplishment in his already accolade-full career was earning his 1,000th win on Friday, Nov. 19 against Taft High School in front of the home crowd. He now has 1,002 wins to date. Only the late Gene Pingatore — who coached boys basketball at St. Joseph High School for 50 years — and Dorothy Gaters — who announced her retirement last week as Marshall High School’s girls basketball coach after 45 years — notched more wins.
Power has also coached in eight All-Star games, including the McDonald’s All American game.
Power has coached high school basketball for 45 years. Before starting at Fenwick, he coached 10 seasons at the now-closed Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) in Westchester, Illinois, and five seasons at Proviso West in Hillside, Illinois. Power won a state championship coaching at IHM in 1987.
Power will finish the 2021-22 season and then remain as a faculty member in Fenwick’s physical education and health department for the remainder of the school year.
The Friars’ next game is Tuesday, Dec. 7 against Palatine at 7:10 p.m. CST.
