DMACC Bears Athletics Program
Men's Basketball Coaches
Meet the Coaches
2007-2008 Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Orv Salmon
Assistant Coaches:
BJ McGinn, Spencer Esslinger
Head Coach Orv Salmon
515-433-5050
ojsalmon@dmacc.edu
Orv Salmon begins his eighth season at the helm of the DMACC – Boone Bears. The basketball program is recognized as one of the top programs in the country. In Salmon’s tenure the Bears have compiled an overall record of 193-43 and have been ranked nationally for seven consecutive years.
The 2006-2007 ended the season with an overall record of 31-5 and a final ranking of fifth in the nation. The Bears were led by First Team All-Conference selection John Holmes and Ashton Sauls. Grant Burns and Rodney Grace received Second Team All-Conference honors. Also, J’Sean Gaddy was named to the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team.
The 2006-2007 team returned to the national spotlight as they defeated Kirkwood 66-44 in the Regional Championship game to advance to the National Championships. The Bears finished the National Tournament as the Eight best team in the nation. Grant Burns was named the national tournaments “Best Small Man”
The 2001-2002 season established the Bears on the national scene. The Bears finished the season with a 31-6 record and repeated as conference champions. The highlight of the season was a Region XI championship and a fourth place finish in the NJCAA national tournament. Shelton Colwell was named first team NJCAA All-American.
Salmon was named Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director on April 27, 2000. From 1980-86 Salmon served as an assistant coach at Drake University under Gary Garner. After leaving Drake to enter the business world, Salmon stayed involved in basketball by serving as radio and television analyst for Drake under Rudy Washington and Kurt Kanaskie. He also spent a year as an assistant coach and consultant for the Manchester Giants of the English Basketball League.
Salmon is a 1973 graduate of the University of Missouri. He played basketball at Missouri under legendary coach, Norm Stewart. He holds an MA in Education Administration from Truman State University.
Salmon's Career Breakdown
Overall: 217-49
Conference Record: 92-25
Region XI Tournament: 14-6
National Tournament: 3-4
Salmon's Coaching Record |
||||
| Year | W | L | Pct. | Postseason |
| 2000-2001 | 29 | 4 | .879 | Regional Final |
| 2001-2002 | 31 | 6 | .838 | National Final Four |
| 2002-2003 | 26 | 7 | .788 | Regional Semifinal |
| 2003-2004 | 27 | 6 | .818 | Regional Final |
| 2004-2005 | 27 | 6 | .818 | Regional Final |
| 2005-2006 | 22 | 9 | .710 | Regional Quarterfinal |
| 2006-2007 | 31 | 5 | .861 | National Elite Eight |
| 2007-2008 | 24 | 6 | .800 | Regional Semifinal |
Assistant Coach B.J. McGinn
bjmcginn@dmacc.edu
B.J. McGinn begins his second season as assistant coach at Des Moines Area Community College. He comes to DMACC after spending last season as an assistant coach at Wayne State College, NE. Before returning to Wayne, McGinn spent two seasons as assistant coach at Eastern Arizona College. While at Eastern Arizona, McGinn helped guide the Gilamonsters to a 37-23 record over two seasons and a regional semi-final appearance. McGinn was in charge of the permieter players and coached two First Team All-Region performers as well as one Second Team All-American. He served as recruiting coordinator, academic and camp coordinator and oversaw all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the basketball program.
Prior to coaching at Eastern Arizona, McGinn served as graduate assistant coach at Wayne State College from 2001-2003. Before entering the college ranks, McGinn was an assistant coach at Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa from 1998-2001. He also served as a student assistant coach at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa from 1996-97.
McGinn is a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa and earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Northern Iowa in 2001. He also earned his master's degree from Wayne State College in sports administration in 2003. He resides in Boone.
Assistant Coach Spencer Esslinger
saesslinger@dmacc.edu
The 2008-2009 season will mark Spencer Esslinger’s fifth year as an assistant to Coach Orv Salmon and the DMACC Bears basketball program. While he's coached at DMACC, the Bears have played their way to a 104-26 record, including a NJCAA Region XI Championship in 2007. In that time at DMACC, the Bears have also had 15 All-Region players and two NJCAA All-Americans.
Prior to coaching at DMACC, Coach Esslinger spent two sessions as an assistant coach at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN. While at St. Cloud, Esslinger helped coach the Huskies to a 2003 North Central Conference Championship and a birth in the 2003 NCAA Division II Tournament. In addition to coaching at St. Cloud State, Esslinger also spent 6 seasons as an assistant coach at Ames High School in Ames, IA.
Spencer earned his Bachelor’s degree in History from Iowa State University and his Master’s Degree in Sports Management from St. Cloud State University. His duties at DMACC include on the floor coaching, recruiting, scouting and film exchange.
In addition to coaching at DMACC, Spencer is also a social studies teacher at Ames Middle School. Spencer and his wife, Katie, reside in Ames.