By Steve Carpenter
Hutchinson CC Sports Information Director

Junior college basketball's winningest team is going high-octane.

Tommy DeSalme was named the 15th head coach in the 90-year history of Blue Dragon Men's Basketball. DeSalme was introduced to Blue Dragon Nation by Athletic Director Josh Gooch at a news conference on Thursday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

Hutchinson will be DeSalme's fifth stop as a head coach, his third in the Jayhawk Conference. DeSalme has amassed an overall coaching record of 396-233 in 20 seasons coaching at Cowley College (12 seasons), Independence Community College (2 seasons), Kansas Wesleyan University (1 season) and Sterling College (5 seasons).

DeSalme moves into the position vacated by Steve Eck, who left the Blue Dragons in April after 12 seasons as the winningest head coach in Hutchinson history. Eck ranks No. 3 in all-time Jayhawk Conference coaching wins and No. 5 in Region VI coaching wins.

With 284 KJCCC/Region VI victories at Cowley and Independence, DeSalme ranks seventh in Jayhawk coaching wins and ninth in Region VI coaching victories.

"What an incredible honor it is for me to have this opportunity," DeSalme said. "This gymnasium is a cathedral. This is such a special place. The town of Hutchinson is a special place and it's an honor for me to be the next head coach here."

Previous to Hutchinson, DeSalme spent 12 seasons at Cowley, becoming that program's winningest coach with a record of 239-143.

But it's his last two seasons that DeSalme put Tiger Basketball on the map as a Region VI and national contender.

DeSalme transformed the Tigers into an entertaining, high-scoring, high-pressure defensive group that set numerous scoring and 3-point shooting records, not to mention a lot of victories and deep postseason runs.

"Those who follow Jayhawk Conference basketball and those who attended the NJCAA Tournament know the brand of basketball that Coach DeSalme is known for," Gooch said. "It's a fast-paced aggressive style that players love to play and fans love to watch. That's what we are in for."

DeSalme's 2021 Cowley team was the No. 2 scoring offense in the NJCAA at 119.0 points per game. The Tigers reached the century mark 21 times, including a Cowley school record 143 points against Dodge City. The 2021 Tigers averaged 14.1 3-point goals and 38 3-point attempts per game, both of those marks led the NJCAA. Cowley had 10 or more 3-pointers 20 times in 2021, breaking the 20 mark four times, including a team record 25 against Dodge City.

Under DeSalme, the 2021 Tigers posted a 24-5 overall record, tied for the Jayhawk East championship, won the Region VI Tournament for the first time since 1957 and advanced all the way to the NJCAA Tournament championship game where Cowley fell to Jayhawk East rival Coffeyville in the finals.

In 2020, the 26-6 Tigers led the NJCAA in scoring at 109.8 points per game. Cowley won the Jayhawk East championship and advanced to the Region VI Tournament semifinals. Cowley was named as an at-large selection for the NJCAA Tournament, but the championships were canceled because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

"Three years ago, we had a team at Cowley that way overachieved, but couldn't shoot the ball, DeSalme said when asked about why he changed his style of play. "I was the king of 61-60 games and I was done with those. I wanted to play faster pace. It's a fun style.

"It allows you to play a different style. You don't have to wait to get a 6-9, 6-10 guy down in the front of the rim. It makes other teams worry about you."

Over his 12 full seasons at Cowley, DeSalme was named the league's Coach of the Year twice (2010, 2021). Cowley won or tied for three Jayhawk East titles (2010, 2020, 2021), played in two Region VI Tournament championship games (2012, 2021) and reached the regional semifinals five times (2011, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2021).

"What I learned about him through the interview process is his passion for student-athletes and the importance for them to be prepared in the classroom," Gooch said. "Coach DeSalme understands the importance of Blue Dragon Basketball in this community."

DeSalme mentored two Jayhawk East MVPs – Tyrus McGee in 2011, Dalen Ridgnal in 2021, both whom were also first-team NJCAA All-Americans in those seasons. Ridgnal was also a third-team All-American in 2020. DeSalme also coached three Jayhawk East Freshmen of the Year, one Defensive Player of the Year, 29 all-conference players and eight first-team all-league selections.

DeSalme's first KJCCC stop was at Independence Community College in 2008 and 2009. DeSalme had a record of 45-19 with the Pirates. His first Independence team was ranked as high as No. 16 in the NJCAA Rankings and finished second in the Jayhawk East with a 16-2 record. Antonio Henson was the 2008 Jayhawk East MVP and second-team NJCAA All-American.

Previous to Independence, DeSalme spent one highly successful season at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina in 2007. The Coyotes went 28-4 record, won the KCAC regular-season and postseason titles, earned a No. 6 national ranking and put together a 19-game winning streak. KWU earned a berth in the NAIA National Tournament and advanced to the second round. The 28 victories also broke a school record for most victories in a season. DeSalme was named KCAC Coach of the Year. His Coyotes also led the nation in scoring defense in 2017.

Prior to Kansas Wesleyan, DeSalme spent his first five seasons as a head coach at Sterling College, where he turned the Warriors program around. DeSalme was 84-67 at Sterling, compiling a 60-30 record in KCAC regular-season play. Sterling finished second place in the KCAC for four consecutive seasons, and earned a berth to the NAIA Division II National Tournament two times over a three-year span (2004 and 2006). The 2004 Warriors won the KCAC postseason tournament which sent Sterling to its first-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance. Under DeSalme's leadership, Sterling twice tied the school record for most victories in a season with 18 in 2002 and 2005.

DeSalme started his coaching career as an assistant at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. DeSalme was responsible for recruiting as well as eligibility and academic progress. While at SOSU, the Savage Storm captured two Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference titles in 1996 and 1997. The team also made two trips to the NAIA Division I National Championships, finishing with a No. 5 ranking in the NAIA Division I final poll in 1997 with an overall record of 27-4.

"I hope to continue the run here and keep putting up banners," DeSalme said.

DeSalme earned his Master of Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State in 1999, after earning his Bachelor degree in Education from SOSU in 1995.

DeSalme played collegiate ball at SOSU, where he was a four-year letter winner and a two-year starter.

A native of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, DeSalme earned all-state, all-region and all-district honors as a senior at Bartlesville High. As a three-year letter winner, he helped guide Bartlesville to a pair of state titles in 1989 and 1991.