BLOOMSBURG - Bloomsburg University head football coach Danny Hale has retired.
Hale, one of the winningest coaches in Division II, completed his 20th season at Bloomsburg with a record of 173-56-1 (.754).
In 25 total years as a head coach, he went 213-69-1 (.754) and ranked in the top five among active Div. II coaches in winning percentage and victories at the end of last season.
Assistant head coach Paul Darragh will assume the role of interim head coach for the 2013 season, the school announced. Bloomsburg will conduct a nationwide search for a new coach.
"After spending the last few months thinking and praying about this decision, I decided it was time to step away from coaching. There is a time for everything in life and now is the time to pass the torch to someone else," said Hale in a statement. "It has been an incredible 20 years here at Bloomsburg, and I am extremely proud of the program that has been established here.
Hale led the Huskies to 11 outright or shared Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division titles and eight NCAA post-season playoff berths. He was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) District I Coach of the Year nine times.
He coached current New Orleans Saints lineman Jahri Evans, who is widely regarded as one of the NFL's top offensive linemen.
The football field at Bloomsburg was named after Hale in April 2012.
