DeSalme looks to keep Cowley on top in Jayhawk East

Following back-to-back Jayhawk East titles, the Cowley College men’s basketball team will look to new head coach Tommy DeSalme to help the Tigers continue its success.

DeSalme spent the previous two seasons at Independence Community College, where he led the Pirates to a record of 45-19 overall and 29-7 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division.

During DeSalme's first season coaching the Pirates, he led them to a 26-6 overall record, a No. 16 national ranking, a second place conference finish, and a 21-game winning streak. The 21-game winning streak is the longest in Independence history. 

He takes over for previous head coach Steve Eck, who left Cowley to take over as head coach at Hutchinson Community College.

DeSalme jumped at the opportunity to lead the Tiger basketball program, a place where he feels he has the ability to compete with any program in the nation.

“It has been a real easy transition, the people at Cowley have been nothing but helpful,” DeSalme said. “The recruits we brought in match our program’s personality. They are hard working, talented kids that have a real competitive nature.”

DeSalme and his assistant coach, Donnie Jackson, will have the Tigers playing an exciting brand of basketball.

“The mentality is a high-energy, very competitive nature,” DeSalme said. “If you make or miss a shot it should not dictate what your level of effort is. If you handle things you can control, you can put yourself in position to win championships.”

The Tiger coaching staff has assembled a talented roster to go along with two returning players from a season ago. Cowley will be extremely deep this season at the guard position.

“I like to recruit speed and length because it allows you to play in the passing lanes,” DeSalme said. “It also allows you to play a fast and furious defensive style.”

DeSalme envisions the Tigers having the capability of playing anywhere from 12-13 players each night.
“It will be interesting to see, but I think we can be 12-13 players deep,” DeSalme said. “They are all going to play, but their defense will dictate how much they will play. The teams I have had that have been successful were extremely deep.”

The two returning players from last season are guards Lance Russell (5.9 points) and Caprest Rhone (5.0 points). Forward Kelton Marshall was also with the team last season as a redshirt freshman.

“Those guys have the experience of what the league is like,” DeSalme said. “I think our leadership will develop and it will come from our sophomores.”

Among the freshmen expected to make the biggest impact to the team are, Tyrus McGee of Stringtown, OK, and Canon Fields of Topeka-Highland Park. McGee, a 6-foot-2 wing player, averaged 36 points per game as a senior and helped lead his high school team to two state championships and four appearances at the state tournament. While, Fields, a 5-foot-10 point guard, helped his high school team capture three straight state championships.

Fellow Tiger freshmen Joseph Wakefield (6-foot-2) and Michael Copeland (6-foot-5) were teammates of Fields at Topeka-Highland Park.

Six-foot-4 freshman, Dominick Cornelius, also experienced winning a state title as he helped Tulsa Memorial High School to the state title during the 2007-08 season.

Of the 11 players recruited to play for the Tigers, 10 received all-league or all-state recognition.

“I like our versatility, we have guys that can play multiple positions,” DeSalme said. “Our speed and versatility is a real strength of this team. We have players with the ability to guard different players, big or small. We also have a chance to be a real good shooting team.”

The Players have been working hard to prepare for the season and DeSalme has been pleased with the team’s effort and willingness to work to get better.

“This is one of the most competitive groups I have ever worked with, now we are just working to get everybody on the same page,” DeSalme said.

DeSalme’s teams at Independence the past two seasons were amongst the top teams in points per game allowed. The new Tiger coach hopes to have that remain the same at Cowley.

“Defense has always been a trademark of mine, my teams create lots of points out of its defense,” DeSalme said.

Cowley will face some good tests during its non-conference schedule as they will play three teams from Oklahoma as well as do battle against some teams from the Jayhawk West.

“I love our non-conference schedule,” DeSalme said. “It’s about preparing yourself to play in the Jayhawk East and taking the necessary steps to get to Wichita (Region VI Tournament) and Hutchinson (National Tournament). I like to challenge the team and the coaching staff. When you play tough teams in Oklahoma and the Jayhawk West it keeps your team locked in.”

The Tigers have high expectations heading into the season. However, to achieve those goals the team will need to develop chemistry and do the little things in order to be successful. If they do that, it should be another exciting season of Cowley basketball.

“Once everyone buys into this being about Cowley and not the individual we will have a chance to be pretty good,” DeSalme said. “The biggest key will be how fast they buy into my philosophy and being able to stay away from injury. We don’t shy away from our goal to get to Hutchinson, but we have got to want to get better everyday.”