Dale was a 1982 graduate of Colbert County High School where he played football and baseball. He was quarterback at CCHS leading the Indians to a 10-0 regular season record as a senior and to the first of thirty straight playoff appearance. He was a member of the 1979 3A State Championship Football Team. Following high school Dale attended the University of North Alabama and served as a volunteer assistant football coach for Coach Don Creasy at Colbert County. Upon graduation in 1989, Dale became an assistant football coach at Andalusia High School. He served as wide receivers and defensive backs coach for the Bulldogs as well as leading the boys track team to two consecutive sectional championships. In 1990 Dale moved on to Hartselle High School for seven years where he would become the offensive coordinator helping lead the Tigers to seven straight playoff appearances. In 1997 he became the head football coach at Red Bay High School where he led the Tigers to prominence as a 2A power with a record 114 victories and 59 losses in his fifteen years at the helm. Five of the Tigers teams won at least ten games and four squads were Region Champions. He was Times Daily Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2007 and Franklin County Coach of the Year four times. In 2011 Dale returned to Leighton where he restored the Colbert County program leading the Indians to the state football quarterfinals his first three years and to the semifinals in the fourth year. His record at CCHS in those four years was 36-16 and he was selected Times Daily Coach of the Year twice.