Marlena Nunley coached Reynolds to fifth place at state in 2012.

Former Reynolds coach Marlena Nunley has been named as the recipient of the 2020 Dance Drill Coaches Association Service Award.

Nunley started her dance team journey as a member of the Parkrose Elite dance team, where she was a team captain and part of the 1996 state championship team. Her sister followed in her footsteps and joined the Elite. This enabled her to stay involved as a team volunteer.

In 2005, Nunley became an assistant dance coach at David Douglas under Kelly Jones. In 2008, she was named the head dance coach at Reynolds, where she transitioned the team from the dance/drill division into the show division.

After many years of rebuilding the team from two members to more than 20 per season, Reynolds placed fifth at the 2012 state championships. In 2018, she was named the DDCA 6A coach of the year.

After 10 seasons as head coach at Reynolds, Nunley resigned in 2018, but continues to be involved as the team's fall category competition director.

She has been a part of the DDCA board of directors since 2016 and a performance judge since 2018. As a board member, she has organized all-state and the DDCA scholarship program.

She always keeps the students and their experience and development in mind. Nunley is a kind, generous and helpful part of the DDCA as a coach, friend, judge and mentor.