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After less than a year on the job, former Bartlesville High basketball standout and head coach Tommy DeSalme is leaving BHS.

DeSalme is stepping aside to take another job at the junior college level, where he has spent most of his head coaching career.

Bartlesville won three games in 2024-2025 with a lineup of mostly freshmen and newcomers.

BHS Athletics and Activities Director Thad Dilbeck thanked DeSalme for his time in Bartlesville.

Bartlesville will now look for its third head coach in the past three seasons, uncharted territory for a boys’ basketball program that had has had only three head coaches since 2001.

Dilbeck talks about the search for the next head man.

The next Bruin coach will inherit most of last year’s roster, as BHS only graduates only senior in Nash Zervas.

Dilbeck says he expects there to be heavy interest, just as there was a year ago.

DeSalme’s hiring at BHS was officially announced on April 15, 2024. 

More on this story as it develops.