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Where Have You Gone ‘D’ Bosley?

By Ed Parsons - Editor | Jan 20, 2021

From the 50’s to the present, Paden City High School has had some of the best Class-A basketball teams in the state of West Virginia. From those teams the Wildcats produced several players who went on to make their mark at the next level. The jump from one of the smallest schools in the state to a Division 1 program is almost unheard of. Especially for a 5’10 guard, but then again not all small school guards are the same, and with hard work, dedication, family support and the right coach anything is possible.

David Bosley, a 1993 graduate of Paden City High School, was the exception. ‘D’ started playing sports at an early age and was a member of the Paden City T-Ball leagues, Little Leagues, Grasshopper Basketball leagues and later moved right into junior high sports where he started on the Middle School teams as a sixth, seventh and eighth grader. From there the rest is history. His freshman year he started on the Wildcats football team and went on to letter four years earning all-OVAC first-team honors as a junior and senior. He completed 113-of-221 passes for 1,271 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for489 stripes and seven additional scores as a senior. Bosley was named to the West Virginia Sports Ultimate All-State Football Team. As a junior, he completed 69-of-112 tosses for 995 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 559 yards and six TDs. Bosley was also a stellar punter, averaging 36.1 yards on 29 boots.

However he earned his reputation and place in Wildcat history as the schools all-time leading scorer on the basketball court. From the time he stepped on the court his freshman year as Coach Bob Burton’s point guard, his scoring translated into a wealth of Wildcat winning as the Green & White advanced to the West Virginia state tournament in 1991 and 1992. Coach Burton’s Cats also grabbed the OVAC crowns in the 1992 and 1993 seasons. All told, Paden City won 81 times and lost just 12 during Bosley’s four-year hoop career.

While the Wildcats were winning, Bosley was scoring. He finished his prep days with 1,996 points, including a senior campaign in which he netted 29.2 points, 7.8 assists, and seven rebounds per start. Those lofty numbers earned him the captaincy of the all-state team. He was also captain of the all-OVAC squad that year and was honored by the Dapper Dans for outstanding achievement.

During his sophomore and junior seasons, the 5 ft. 10 backcourt dandy earned all-OVAC and all-state honors as Paden City advanced to the state tournament each winter. Besides his scoring antics, his prowess on the court resulted in career highs of 169 steals, 512 assists, and 391 rebounds, leading to a four year career in the rugged SEC where he earned a scholarship to play for the legendary Coach Dale Brown at LSU, who retired following Bosley’s senior campaign.

Sistersville native Craig Carse who is a coaching legend himself was recruiter for Brown at the time. According to Carse he scouted Bosley, made a call to Brown and said I found a basketball player you need to look at. Coach Brown who had Shaq O’Neil on the team said how tall is he? Carse answered, coach he’s 5’11” but you have to take a look at him, he’s the real deal.

Of course after watching a little film, Brown grabbed him up without hesitation. In Bosley’s final regular season game, he netted the final four points of the game to give Brown his first-ever triumph over Nolan Richardson’s Arkansas Razorbacks since they joined the SEC in 1991. Bosley was awarded the LSU’s Director Cup for academic excellence and was recognized as an SEC Scholar Athlete.

Bosley’s high school coach Bob Burton said,“there were times I had to call timeout and instruct D to shoot the ball. He was as unselfish of a player as I ever had. He wanted to win at any cost, and passing was something he loved to do. The night he scored 50 points in a come from behind victory over River on our home court, I called a timeout and told him if he didn’t start shooting the ball I was going to pull him out. He took over from there and scored 18 points in the fourth quarter to get us the win over a good River team.”

Following his career at LSU, he took up coaching and later became a head coach at Pasadena Memorial High School in Friendswood, Texas, where he currently resides and is assistant Principal at the school. In 2002 he married his wife Jennifer and together they are the proud parents of two daughters, both who are active in sports, community, and church.

In an email sent to the Chronicle from Coach Bosley, he was quick to give credit to those who helped him become the person he was and is today. He said he has nothing but respect and gratitude for Paden City and the people of the area.

“I am blessed and honored to be mentioned with all the other great athletes mentioned from Wetzel and Tyler County. I feel I am a product of the people around me. There are so many people that influenced me during my time growing up in Paden City. My parents and family were the most influential people in my life. Both of my parents provided unconditional support and sacrifices for me and my brothers. I was blessed to have my Mom and Dad expose us to high school and college sporting events. My parents spending time with us created a passion for playing sports,” Coach D Bosley said.

He then added the following: “Coach Burton was deeply invested in Paden City. This made a difference to me and many kids in Paden City. Coach Burton instilled values and character while building relationships with his players. He was and is still a man of character. He was a big factor and influence on me getting into coaching as a profession. Just to clarify, he knew more about teaching basketball skills and tactics than any coach I ever played for at any level, but his character is what influenced me the most.’

“During my time at LSU I had the privilege to play for Dale Brown. Like Coach Burton he cared more about life lessons and developing young men then the X’s and O’s of the game of basketball. He opened my eyes to the powerful influence we all have on people around us and the calling we have to accept and embrace people from diverse back grounds with love and respect,” added Coach Bosley

Coach Bosley started teaching and coaching in 1999 and has been at his current school, Pasadena Memorial High School since 2003.

“I was the head basketball coach at Pasadena Memorial HS from 2003 -2017. I took great pride in coaching young men the skills of basketball, but more importantly how to be competitive while developing their character. In 2017 through present day I have been an assistant principal at the same school mentoring the teachers and coaches that have such an impact on their students’ lives. I still prefer to be called Coach Bosley to Mr. Bosley as those in my past mean so much to who I strive to be.”

“I am more than blessed to be married to my wife Jennifer for over 18 years. We have two amazing daughters named Trinity (14) and Raylee (12). My greatest joys to date are marrying the love of my life and being a father to my daughters. I truly enjoy coaching them in volleyball, basketball, golf, and supporting them in their activities with the best teammate ever, my wife Jennifer.”

Coach D Bosley said, there are many other coaches, assistant coaches, teachers, and friends that have influenced him significantly in his life, but none more than his parents and his wife.

Sounds like the same D we all knew!