The Quad

Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Sports

I would like to praise and thank former West Chester University Men's Head Basketball Coach Dick DeLaney. After 40 years of service, and 21 years roaming the sidelines here at West Chester, DeLaney has decided to retire from the game in which he loves so much. DeLaney will retire as one of the greatest coaches to ever coach at West Chester.

It was a pleasure to watch Coach DeLaney teach his players to play the game the right way the last two years here at West Chester. Not only did he coach his players on the court, but he made his players work hard off the court.

The game of basketball will not always be there for the players, so he instilled in his players the ability to have success in whatever they wish to pursue in their future endeavors.

Retiring as the all-time wins leader with 370 victories, DeLaney finished with only 213 losses and with a .635 winning percentage. Coach DeLaney led the Golden Rams to six consecutive 20-win seasons (1997/1998 - 2002-2003) and five NCAA Division II playoff appearances, the last being in 2003. In his 21 seasons as head coach, DeLaney led the Golden Rams to 18 winning seasons.

Being a part of the newspaper and the radio station this past year has given me the ability to watch and listen to the lessons that Coach DeLaney has to offer.

DeLaney clearly values the relationships with his current and former players. The outgoing coach talked about attending players' weddings and being involved in their lives long after they depart WCU, during a radio interview with Matt Lombardo on 91.7 WCUR Saturday.

Being a teacher on and off the court is one of the greatest assets that a coach can have and Coach DeLaney possesses that asset.

Another thing Coach DeLaney did very well was utilize his talent. He knew every player and their talents and knew how to put them into the right position to win. DeLaney was also able take a young team (i.e. 2007-2008) and allowed them to mature into a team that has a chance to contend this season.

This past season, after the departure of seven seniors, Coach DeLaney led a team with one senior, six freshman, four returners and two transfers to what many can consider a successful 12-15 campaign. The young players on the team were able to gain much needed experience and will be able to help whoever takes the head coaching position into the next season.

It will be interesting to see who the administration at West Chester will decide to hire as the new head basketball coach for the Golden Rams. But all I can say is that whoever takes over will have big shoes to fill after the retirement of Coach Dick DeLaney.

LJ Harell is second-year student majoring in business. He can be reached at LH639694@wcupa.edu.

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