DMACC Bears Athletics Program
Men's Basketball Coaches
Meet the Coaches
2008-2009 Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Orv Salmon
Associate Head Coach:
BJ McGinn
Assistant Coach:
Spencer Esslinger
Head Coach Orv Salmon
515-433-5050
ojsalmon@dmacc.edu
Orv Salmon begins his ninth 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 217-49 and have been ranked nationally for eight consecutive years.
The 2007-2008 team ended the season with an overall record of 24-6 and a final ranking of seventh in the nation. The Bears were led by Second Team All-American Grant Burns. Burns along with Rodney Grace were named to the All-Conference first team. Being named to the second team was Brent Jackman. Both Avery Tyler and Willi Estrella were named honorable mention All-Conference.
Salmon has now coached an All-American in six of his eight seasons at DMACC. They include two-time All-american Shelton Colwell, Ian Young, Frashon McGee, Al Stewart and now Grant Burns.
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.
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 along with current Iowa Energy Coach Nick Nurse.
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 |
| Total | 217 | 49 | .816 | |
Associate Coach B.J. McGinn
bjmcginn@dmacc.edu
B.J. McGinn begins his third season as assistant coach at Des Moines Area Community College and his first as Associate Head Coach for Head Coach Orv Salmon. During his time with the Bears, McGinn has helped guide them to a record of 55-11 over two seasons. The 2006-07 Bears compiled a school best record of 31-5, won the Region 11 championship, advanced to the Elite Eight, and finished the season ranked fifth in the country. The 2007-08 Bears finished with a record of 24-6 and a final national ranking of seventh. During this period, the Bears have had eight All-Region performers and one All-American.
McGinn's responsibilities with the Bears include recruiting coordinator, player development, scouting and game preparation, academic coordinator, and camp coordinator. In addition, he oversees all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the program.
Prior to coaching at DMACC, McGinn served as an assistant coach and NCAA Division II Wayne State College in Nebraska for three seasons. Following the first year of both his stops in Wayne, the Wildcats doubled their season win totals the next year and produced eleven all conference performers. McGinn also had a two year stint at NJCAA Division I Eastern Arizona College where he helped guide the Gilamonsters to a 37-23 record, while producing seven all-region performers and one All-American. Before entering the college ranks, McGinn was an assistant Coach at Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa from 1998-2001. He also spent time as an 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 then went on to earn his master's degree in athletic administration from Wayne State College in 2003. He resides in Boone with his wife Alisha and her son Cole.
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 seasons 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.