Sports
PAGE 12
Sept. 2 2016
Hoping to add more State title plaques, new basketball coach takes over program BY NICK MURPHY AND PHIL KNERR In his first head coaching position, he led the Waldron team to a 27-0 record and a State championship; he nearly topped 100 wins in five seasons as head coach Arsenal Tech and led the Titans to the 2014 State Class 4A title, adding to one of the most substantial high school rivalries in Indianapolis. Now former Tech Head Coach Mr. Jason Delaney has accepted the position as head coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team here. Although the rivalry between the schools is present, Delaney has a past with Principal Mr. Dave Worland, playing under him at Lafayette Central Catholic and inspiring him to become a coach.
Cathedral connections
Photo by Liam Keenan
“At the end of the day my job is to put us in a position to win. That is the ultimate goal.”
Boys’ varsity basketball Head Coach Mr. Jason Delaney
First seven regular season games Nov. 21 at Guerin Catholic Dec. 2 at Howe Dec. 3 at Fort Wayne North Dec. 9 at Warren Central Dec. 16 versus Bishop Chatard Dec. 17 versus Arsenal Tech Dec. 22 at Brebeuf Jesuit
A connection like this to the school and his devotion to excellence may lead the Cathedral team to yet another basketball State championship. After coaching players like George Hill (a first round pick in the 2008 NBA draft when Delaney served as an assistant coach at Broad Ripple) and Trey Lyles (a first round pick in the 2015 draft when Delaney was the head coach at Tech), the new coach hopes to build a legacy on the court and hang banners in the gym. However, Delaney still says academics are more important than athletics. In an email response to a reporter’s question he wrote, “I believe that you are a student first. Our first semester GPA at Tech last year was a 3.17 average for our varsity players.” Besides his head coaching position, Delaney will teach introduction to business, management and advanced physical education. Due to Delaney’s relatively late hiring after former Head Coach Mr. Andy Fagan left to take a position at IUPUI, he had to fulfill his contract at Arsenal Tech High School and work three more weeks as the school’s athletic director. “I had no assistant athletics director or athletics secretary, so it was just me at a 4A program,” Delaney said. Now, coming into a program with a strong administrative following there isn’t much holding this team back from having great success. Delaney has had a strong coaching and basketball career beginning at Lafayette Central Catholic under Worland. Delaney went on to graduate from Ball State University and jumped straight into coaching, working with the freshman team at Muncie Central. Since Muncie, he has coached at Waldron from 200304, Southport (2004-08), Anderson Highland (200910), Washington (2010-2011) and most recently at
Mr. Jason Delaney poses with Tech’s State championship trophy. The new coach said he hopes to bring a similar trophy here. Submitted photo
Arsenal Tech. Coming into a winning program, Delaney said he is excited to get the ball rolling. “Cathedral has stood for excellence and the opportunity opened up. IPS and I were headed in different directions, so that played a role as well,” said Delaney. Irish players have faced Delaney from the other side, but look to put that rivalry behind them.
Praise from current players
“I have tremendous respect for him. I don’t think the past will affect our relationship negatively, rather it will help us to learn from him and to accomplish our main goal this year, which is to win State,” wrote senior Daniel Goggans in an email. Most players are familiar with Delaney’s coaching styles, having played for him through Amateur Athletic Union leagues this past summer. “Delaney is a very honest coach and pushes us hard in practice to make the team the best that it can be,” said sophomore James Franklin via email. When Cathedral hosts Tech in December, the new head coach will face his former players. The Irish coach said, “They lost their coach and I had some great relationships with these players. At the end of the day my job is to put us in a position to win, which is the ultimate goal.”