Bartlesville Public Schools welcomes Tommy DeSalme as the new Bruin Boys Basketball Coach. DeSalme brings a wealth of coaching experience and a passion for basketball to the Bartlesville community.
Having served as the head coach at Hutchinson Community College since 2021, DeSalme holds a track record of coaching success spanning over 23 seasons. His journey includes notable stints at Cowley College, Independence Community College, Kansas Wesleyan University, and Sterling College.
Thad Dilbeck, Bartlesville’s Executive Director of Athletics and Activities, stated, "We're very excited for Coach DeSalme to lead our boys basketball program. His wealth of coaching knowledge and experience made him an easy choice."
A Bartlesville native, DeSalme was a member of the 1991 Bruin Basketball team, who were inducted into the 2023 Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame by the Bartlesville Sports Commission. DeSalme's personal accolades include earning all-state, all-region, and all-district honors during his time at Bartlesville High, where he played an integral role in securing two state titles for the team in 1989 and 1991.
DeSalme earned his Master of Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1999, following his Bachelor's degree in Education from SOSU in 1995. As a student-athlete at SOSU, DeSalme distinguished himself as a four-year letter winner and a two-year starter on the collegiate basketball team.