Dale Okinaka

Dale Okinaka, Hall of Fame Inductee
Dale Okinaka, Hall of Fame Inductee
Dale started coaching girl ‘s softball in 1979 with the Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association. Soon he became a member of the GVGSA Board of Directors and eventually served as Board President for three years.

Over the last 24 years, Dale has coached girls from the ages of 8 to 22 and in 1995 was elected as Amateur Softball Association’s Coach of the Year. His travel team, Southern California Waves, won the age 18 and under National Championship out of 76 teams representing 35 states. (The Waves came back from a third game defeat to win II straight games over a 2Y 2-day period.) Dales proudest softball moment was when each of his players, through their dedication and hard work, received a college scholarship to continue their education while playing softball. He continues to work with local girls, assisting at San Marcos High School and Dos Pueblos High School.

Dale’s basketball days were spent at San Marcos High under coach Maury Halleck, where he garnered All Channel League honors. After high school, Dale attended Santa Barbara City College, where he gained All South-Central Conference honors.

Dale graduated from the University of Laverne with a degree in Business Administration and recently retired from General Motors Corporation after a 38-year career. He has been married to his wife Margaret for 38 years and they have two daughters, Lisa and Chrissy, and five grandchildren: Davis, Chase, Isabel, Emily and Sidney.