The Tommy DeSalme File

Head Men's Basketball Coach

Tommy DeSalme begins his first season as head men's basketball coach for the Independence Community College Pirates.  DeSalme comes to Independence after successful coaching stints at Kansas Wesleyan University, Sterling College, and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

DeSalme completed just one season at Kansas Wesleyan University but promptly led the Coyotes to a 28-4 record, a KCAC conference and postseason title, a #6 national ranking, and a trip to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.  The 28 victories also broke a school record for most victories in a season.  The Coyotes also enjoyed a 17-1 league mark, an all-time best in a ten team KCAC conference race. Under DeSalme the Coyotes led the nation in defensive points per game average and were third in the nation in steals. DeSalme was also named KCAC Coach of the Year.

Prior to Kansas Wesleyan, DeSalme spent five seasons at Sterling College, where he turned around a program that consistently finished near the bottom of the KCAC standings to a contender for the KCAC title in each of his five seasons. DeSalme left Sterling with an 84-67 overall record, and 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).  In 2004, DeSalme also led the Warriors to a KCAC Conference Tournament Championship that allowed Sterling to advance to the schools first ever 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 was also the director of the Warrior Athletic Association at Sterling. Under DeSalme’s direction, the WAA started an athletic booster club with over 120 members in four different levels on membership. He was also responsible for raising over $5,000 to start Sterling College On-line Radio for broadcasts of games as well as coaches shows and other campus events.

Prior to Sterling, DeSalme was an assistant coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. At SOSU, 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.

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 garnered all-state, all-region and all-district honors as a senior at Bartlesville High.  As a three-year letterwinner, he helped guide Bartlesville to a pair of state titles in 1989 and 1991.

Office - 620-332-5475        Email - tdesalme@indycc.edu