Hutchinson Stays In Jayhawk Conference For Eck’s Replacement

Hutchinson, KS – May 6, 2021

Tommy DeSalme was introduced as the next Head Coach of the Blue Dragons at a press conference in the Sports Arena earlier today. DeSalme was last at the same site just 12 days ago leading his Cowley College Tigers to the championship game of the NJCAA National Championship game against rival Coffeyville.

In becoming the college’s 15th Head Coach, DeSalme brings with him a style of basketball that resembles and indoor track meet. The last two seasons, the Tigers averaged 109.8 ppg, tops in the nation for 2020. During 2021, his national runner-up squad finished second behind Grayson College (TX) by one tenth of one percent (109.1 to 109.0).

His three point per minute pace was implemented two years ago with a recruiting class that went 50-11, won or shared the Jayhawk East Conference title both years, made it to the semifinals of the District in 2020, winning it this season. Their back to back qualifying for the Big Dance in Hutch ended a 64 year drought of tournament appearances for the Tigers.

“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, 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.”

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

In twelve season at Cowley, DeSalme is the career leader in wins (239-143), is replacing Steve Eck, who leaves as Hutch’s wins leader (328-76) during his 12 years at the helm. Both coaches rank in the top ten in career KJCAA and Region VI wins.

During his tenure at Cowley, DeSalme was named the league’s Coach of the Year twice (2010, 2021). His team’s 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).

Cowley made the 2020 Tournament as an at-large team but never got to showcase their offensive prowess when the championship was cancelled. This past season, the Tigers earned their way into the 24 team field as Plains District Champions, advancing to the title game for the second time in school history (1953 vs. Butler the other). In both occasions, Cowley lost in the finals to another Kansas team.

Ironically, both old and new Blue Dragon coaches traveled similar paths. Eck, before taking over at Hutch, had previous stints at Butler CC (KS), and Cowley, with a pit stop at Redlands (OK) in between. DeSalme was at fellow Jayhawk East Independence CC before arriving at Cowley.

DeSalme seemed humbled regarding his new position, “”What an incredible honor it is for me to have this opportunity.” He continued, “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.”

Supporting a resume with stops at Kansas Wesleyan University and Sterling College including his three Kansas Junior College gigs, DeSalme has accumulated an overall record of 316-233 in his 20 year as a Head Coach. His teams only finished below .500 in three of those twenty.

“I hope to continue the run here and keep putting up banners,” DeSalme said, on taking over reigns of the winningest Junior College program.

The Blue Dragons are one of six schools with three NJCAA National Championships to their credit. The others include: South Plains College (TX), College of Southern Idaho, Indian Hills CC (IA), Southeastern CC (IA), and Independence CC (KS). Two teams, Moberly Area CC (MO) and San Jacinto-Central (TX) have four titles. San-Jac dissolved their men’s basketball program after a quarterfinal run in the 2017 tournament, which was the year Hutch claimed its third championship.

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.

(Some of the content for this article was provided by Cowley Athletics and Hutchinson Sports Information)