Williamson College of the Trades Director of Athletics Dale Plummer Inducted into the United States Collegiate Athletic Association’s National Hall of Fame

Williamson College of the Trades Director of Athletics Dale Plummer was inducted into the United States Collegiate Athletic Association's National Hall of Fame in a ceremony held recently in Pittsburgh, PA.  He was part of a five-member class inducted that evening.

During his speech, Plummer referred to God directing his path to Williamson thirty-five years ago.

"They say that when you become a Christian, you give God permission to mess with your life.  I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior back in 1981 and God has been messing with my left ever since.  And I could not be more grateful that He has been.  Only He could have led me to Williamson, and for that I will forever be grateful.

During his time at the podium, Plummer shared all the circumstances that led him to Williamson, as well as many of the things he loved about that college.  He was able to share some of the major challenges he has faced and how God has always provided for himself and the college in a big way. 

He went on to thank all the student-athletes and coaches during his time, as well as the former and current administrators in charge of the college. He especially was thankful of support of current President Michael Rounds.

"No President in the country is more supportive than he is.  Period.  I am so thankful for him and Dr. Zachary (Provost) and all they do to support our student-athletes and our coaches.  None of the success we have achieved would have been possible without them."

Plummer then went on to thank his wife Debbie.

"They say the only job tougher than being a collegiate athletic director is being the wife of a collegiate athletic director.  Debbie has put up with so much, me working all day then nights and weekends.  It never ends and yet she has been there every step of the way.  I wouldn't be half the man I am without her.  I can never thank her enough."

Afterwards, Plummer shared his work philosophy.

"I've always wanted to honor the Lord and honor Mr. Williamson.  I've felt that if I give my all to honor the Lord, Mr. Williamson is then indeed honored as well."

A graduate from Collingswood High School in New Jersey where he was a standout tennis player, Dale Plummer went on to become the top tennis player on the Widener University Men's Tennis team, where he as a three-time team captain and left with the school record for wins with 44. 

After graduating from Widener with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he was hired immediately by his alma mater to be the Widener University's Tennis Administrator/Men's Tennis Coach.  Over the next 3 ½ years, he oversaw the school's most successful stretch in school history, with the school going 33-22 and setting a school record for wins with 17 in 1988.    

After his time at Widener, Plummer was hired as the Director of Athletics at Williamson College of the Trades, a position he has held for the past 35 years. 

Prior to his arrival at Williamson, none of the college's six varsity sports were in a league, conference or national organization.  Those six teams combined to go 14-68-1 the year prior to his arrival.  

Since his arrival, Williamson has won 26 league championships, had 25 conference Player of the Year award winners, has had 301 All-Conference players, 88 USCAA, NJCAA and NCWA All-Americans, 259 Academic All-Americans and All-Academic team members.  The school's men's basketball team won the USCAA Division II national championship in 2008, 09 and lost in the finals in 2010.  The school's lacrosse team was the 2012 NJCAA Academic Team of the Year, while the 2023 lacrosse team was named the NCLL Division II Team of the Year.  Williamson teams have played for a national championship six times, winning two of those national championship games. 

In 2004, Plummer was awarded the Leadership award by the Southeastern Chester County Leadership and Prayer Breakfast in recognition of his "dedicated service to providing leadership and developing leadership and moral character in the lives of others."

In 2015, he was inducted into the Collingswood High School Athletic Hall of Fame for his exploits in tennis and basketball during his high school career. 

For the past 11 Summers, Plummer has been part of a church Missions team that distributes compact water filter kits to villagers in Kenya who are dying each day due to a lack of clean water.  In 2022, he was awarded the NJCAA Region 19 Champions of Character Humanitarian award for his work in Kenya, as well as for his work in feeding the hungry and homeless, and helping men stuck in addiction in Chester, PA through an organization called CityTeam, where he is a member of the Board of Directors.

In addition to his duties as Director of Athletics, Plummer also teaches Thermodynamics and Technical Math at the college, as well as runs the college's athletics web page.  He also leads a weekly Bible study for the college's student-athletes for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, something he has done for the past 34 years.

Outside of Williamson, he is on the Boards of CityTeam, the Rocky Run YMCA, and the USCAA and is chairman of the Bethlehem Church Missions committee, where he also leads a week