Palm Beach Atlantic University Director of Athletics Carolyn Stone announced on Tuesday, April 23, that David Balza has been named head coach for the men’s Division II basketball program. A veteran collegiate coach with more than 20 years of experience, Balza will officially begin his duties in May.

Balza has spent a majority of his coaching career in NCAA Division II with head coaching stints at Florida Gulf Coast University (2001-11) and Saint Joseph’s College (1998-01). He started the FGCU program.

His leadership of the Eagles as a young NCAA Division II member saw the program experience early success as a South Region Independent. Balza’s teams were 114-39 in their five years at the Division II level before making the decision to transition to Division I.

Balza arrives at PBA following two seasons as head coach at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn. where he twice guided the Vikings to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) tournament championship game. His first year at BLC, the program earned its first-ever UMAC regular season conference championship.

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