Highland Local School District is pleased to announce Mike DeLaney as the new head boys basketball coach.
DeLaney, 52, has served as the athletic director at Highland High School since 2015. Prior to coming to Highland in 2014 as an assistant boys basketball coach, DeLaney was the head boys basketball coach at Big Walnut High School.
“I’m looking forward to becoming the next head boys basketball coach at Highland,” DeLaney said. “My areas of focus are taking care of our seniors, guiding them to a successful finish to their careers as well as working to build a program based on hard work, discipline and unselfish play that our community will be proud to support every time we step on the court.”
DeLaney, a graduate of Ontario High School, attended Ashland University and graduated with his education degree. After graduation, he accepted a teaching and coaching job at Clear Fork High School. DeLaney was instrumental in leading Clear Fork to its first boys basketball state championship in 2002 as a varsity assistant coach under head coach Kevin Logsdon.
In 2004, DeLaney got his first head coaching job at neighboring Utica High School. DeLaney led Utica to back-to-back league championships in ‘07-’08. After four years at Utica, DeLaney became the head coach at Big Walnut High School, leading them to back-to-back district tournament appearances in ‘09-’10. He has a career record of 87-59 in seven seasons as a head boys basketball coach at Utica and Big Walnut.
“I am very excited to have Coach DeLaney take the reins of our boys basketball program,” principal Chad Carpenter said. “His experience, knowledge of the game, work ethic and student centered attitude make him a great choice to be our next head coach.”
DeLaney will become the 12th head boys basketball coach in the history of Highland Local School District. He resides in Bellville with his wife, Susan, and son, Liam. DeLaney also has two adult daughters, Audra and Molly.
