In fact, if he does any better, one wonders whether he will want to climb the coaching ladder like former Tabor football coaches Tim McCarty, now an assistant at Kansas State, and Mike Gardner, who recently took the head job at Malone College in Ohio.

For the most part, Tabor has an outstanding track record of finding quality people to lead its athletic programs. But the quality of the individual hasn't always resulted in winning records.

Recently Tabor has been extremely blessed to find quality people who also are successful coaches.

While it's far too soon to close the book on Allen's career, it's safe to say he's had an amazing four years as a college women's basketball coach.

In Allen's four years, his Tabor Bluejay teams have improved every year. In 2002-03, Tabor was 9-9 in the KCAC and 13-16 overall. In 2003-04, the Bluejays were 12-6 in the conference and 18-12 overall. In 2004-05, Tabor was 17-1 in the KCAC, 24-5 overall. This year, Tabor was 18-0 in the KCAC, 28-5 overall.

In his brief tenure at Tabor, Allen has won a couple of coaching honors, two KCAC championships and his teams have won two games in the national NAIA basketball tournament the past two years. The only thing not on his resume is a KCAC tournament championship and a national championship.

It's hard to appreciate how hard it is at any level to win 35 of 36 conference games. When you win, every team gives you its best shot.

When you're No. 1, everyone else tries harder.

When Allen came to Tabor, Sterling College was the power in KCAC women's basketball. The balance of power has tipped to Hillsboro.

It's ironic that Allen wound up at Tabor, because if life were fair, he probably would be at Hesston High School or some other school.

Allen experienced a fair amount of success as a boys' basketball coach at Hesston, but for reasons that apparently can only be described as politically motivated, he was not asked to continue coaching the Swathers.

Whatever the case, the timing was perfect for Tabor because the Bluejays had an opening for women's basketball. Tabor not only got a great person with a lot of integrity, a passion for young people and an enthusiasm for basketball, they got someone who fits perfectly with the school's Christian beliefs and mission, and a coach who can identify and recruit talented student-athletes.

While Allen is passionate about what he does, it's not as clear if he has a passion to climb the coaching ladder. Is he content to continue developing the women's basketball program at Tabor? Would he like to try his hand at coaching a college men's program? Would he like to apply his coaching skills at a bigger school?

If ever there were a time to make a move, now would be a good time. He took over a struggling program at Tabor and turned it into a big winner. And the cupboard is far from bare next season. And, from what I have observed, Allen is working the recruiting circuit as though he has every intention of staying awhile.

As far as I know, Allen is content with his current role at Tabor College, and he's a great ambassador for the school. The only thing I know for sure is this: if I had a daughter who were talented enough to play college basketball, I'd want her to play for Rusty Allen.