Dan Chapla became the 10th William Woods University head women's basketball coach in school history during the summer of 2008. Chapla has guided the program to heights never seen, as he has taken one team to the NAIA Quarterfinals (2016-17) and three teams to the NAIA National Championship Second Round (2010-11, 2012-13).
Under the guidance of Chapla, the Owls have produced nine NAIA All-Americans (Rachel Baker (three time), Sharon Andrews, Priscila Santos, Katie Scherder, Blake French, Julia Wells and Jasmine Brown).
William Woods has won at least 20 games every season under the direction of Chapla, and he has taken the Owls to the NAIA National Tournament for a school-record nine consecutive years.
With Chapla leading the Owls, WWU has earned AMC co-champions honors during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season. During the 2008-09 season, the Owls reached the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship for the first time since the 1991-92 season.
Chapla has won 217 games as an Owl, the second most in women’s basketball program history. Entering the 2017-18 season, Chapla sits 32 wins away from tying Roger Ternes for the most wins in program history. During his career at WWU, Chapla won his 100th game on February 25th, 2012 when the Owls defeated Missouri Baptist, 63-41. His 200th career win come against Missouri Baptist on December 1st, 2016 when the Owls won 84-67.
Under Chapla, William Woods has produced numerous Academic All-AMC players. The Owls have ranked in the WBCA Top 25 of Academic Teams in four of his nine years.
Chapla came to William Woods from Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo., were he spent six years as the head women’s basketball coach. During his time at C-SC, his program produced 12 NAIA scholar athletes. Coach Chapla’s teams finished in the top three in defensive field goal percentage during five of his six years as head coach. They qualified for the Heart of America Athletic Conference post-season tournament five times.
Prior to Culver-Stockton, he spent two seasons as the men’s basketball assistant coach at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan.
Before his stint at Ottawa University, Chapla spent a year at the University of Central Missouri. Chapla was an assistant men's coach for the NCAA Division II Mules.Â
Chapla began his coaching career at Culver-Stockton College in 1996. He spent three years as an assistant men's basketball coach and Intramural Director.
Chapla is a graduate of Ottawa University. He was a starting point guard for three years, and team captain during the 1993 season. That year he was also selected First-Team All-Conference and NAIA Honorable-Mention All-American. He was inducted into the Ottawa University Hall of Fame in the fall of 2014.
Coach Chapla received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Ottawa University in 1993. In May of 2002, Chapla received his masters of physical education/sports administration from the University of Central Missouri.
Chapla is married to his wife Gara. They reside in Fulton, Mo., with their daughter Ivy and son Luke.
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