New Head Coach Named for Men’s Hoops

For the first time in more than two decades, Lewis & Clark’s men’s basketball team will be led by a new head coach, Dinari Foreman BS ’95. Foreman took over the post from Bob Gaillard, his former college coach and current mentor. Foreman is the first African American head basketball coach in Lewis & Clark history and the only African American men’s basketball coach currently in the Northwest Conference.

“While we’re sad that Bob will no longer be coaching our men’s basketball team, we are absolutely delighted about Dinari Foreman succeeding him,” says President Barry Glassner. “As a Lewis & Clark alum, as a former star player for our team, and as a mentor with a special gift for connecting with student-athletes, Dinari is in an ideal position to continue the strong tradition of men’s basketball at Lewis & Clark.”

Foreman has been a cornerstone of the Lewis & Clark basketball program for the past decade, initially returning to his alma mater as a part-time assistant coach in the 2001–02 season. After six seasons as an assistant, Foreman was promoted to associate head coach in 2007.

During his time on the bench alongside head coach Gaillard, Foreman helped lead the Pioneers to six postseason appearances, including making it to the Elite Eight of the 2002 NCAA National Tournament, along with a pair of Northwest Conference titles. He coached 18 players to All-Conference honors and helped mentor Scott Davis to All-American status in 2002.

Foreman’s history with the Pioneers began as a player wearing the orange and black. An NAIA All-American at Lewis & Clark in the 1994–95 season, Foreman went on to spend two years playing international ball in Germany. He was a member of two Northwest Conference championship teams at Lewis & Clark, including the 1993–94 team that went to the Final Four of the NAIA National Championship. In his senior year at Lewis & Clark, Foreman finished second in the nation in scoring at the NAIA level. He was inducted into the Lewis & Clark College Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

“Lewis & Clark College has been the best thing to happen to me in my life,” says Foreman. “The faculty, staff, and students here are incredible. I can’t wait to lead and mentor these young people through what should be the best times of their lives.”