Pictured (l to r) at the Kane DeLaney Court ceremony are Terry Beattie, Director of Athletics; Damien Blair, Head Coach, Men’s Basketball; Dr. Zebulun Davenport, Vice President for University Advancement & External Affairs; Dick DeLaney, former Men’s Basketball Coach and Honoree; Deirdre Kane, former Women’s Basketball Coach and Honoree; Dr. Laurie Bernotsky, President, West Chester University; Kiera Wooden, Head Coach, Women’s Basketball; Deb Cornelius, Executive Director, WCU Foundation
In true Golden Ram spirit, West Chester University recently named its newly designed basketball court after two beloved University basketball coaches who are living legends — former Women’s Basketball Coach Deirdre Kane and former Men’s Basketball Coach Dick DeLaney ’69. More than 300 alumni, former West Chester University athletes, friends, and members of the community filled WCU’s Hollinger Fieldhouse on September 14 to unveil the Kane DeLaney Court and celebrate the two winningest coaches in WCU’s history. Members of the marching band, Rammy the mascot, as well as members of the women’s and men’s basketball teams, showered the coaches with fond memories of going to the hoop.
“Players, student assistants, graduate assistants, and student managers are the real reason that I am a coach,” said Coach Kane to all those who gathered in her honor, including many former student athletes who played on her various teams throughout the years. “I hope I was as successful as my mother at making all of you feel like you were my favorite. During my many years at West Chester University, I also encountered the best colleagues. The love is real and I’m sure they all know it. It is an honor to know that Coach DeLaney’s name and my name will live on in perpetuity at this University.”
Coach DeLaney shared the heartfelt sentiment. “What a nice day this is, and it is such an honor to be here,” he said to a crowd that was comprised of many former players whom he called out by name and shared personal stories. “Basketball has been at WCU since the 1900s. I often thought about all the basketball coaches who went before me and I wanted to honor the work that they had done. Coach Kane and I recruited good people. Our student athletes became doctors, teachers, mothers, fathers. All our student athletes became successful because of the way our basketball program was designed. We were family then and we are family now.”
The coaches’ pride was visible as they gazed on a special plaque that had been installed in their honor on one of the entrance walls to Kane DeLaney Court. The plaque pays tribute to the vast impact that the two coaches have made on WCU’s men’s and women’s basketball programs, as well as on the entire University community.
The Kane DeLaney Court features the two coaches’ signatures, permanent hanging banners with images of the honorees, and new wall paint that blazes purple and gold Ram pride. The newly designed Kane DeLaney Court has been made possible thanks to 180 gifts made by West Chester University alumni and friends.
The two coaches more than merit the University-wide honor and recognition. Over a 27-season tenure, Coach Deirdre Kane led her teams to 447 victories. In addition to 16 postseason appearances, she also led her teams to four NCAA Tournament appearances. As a 5-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) coach of the year and 3-time regional coach of the year, Coach Kane ranks third all-time in PSAC history in coaching wins and 55th all-time in NCAA Division II history. She authored a .590 overall winning percentage during her coaching career and a .663 percentage in conference play.
With 370 wins over 21 seasons, Coach Dick DeLaney, who was a two-sport athlete while a student at WCU, authored 18 winning seasons, was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Coach of the Year five times (1991, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2006), won four PSAC East titles (1994, 2000, 2002, 2006), played for the PSAC championship twice (1998, 2001), and was named Middle Atlantic Coach of the Year in 2003. In addition, five of his squads qualified for the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament (1994, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003). Coach DeLaney is also Markward Basketball Club Lifetime Award recipient, as well as West Chester University’s Inner Circle Award recipient in 2019. Today, Coach DeLaney is a member of seven different halls of fame.
“Having made a significant difference in the lives of many student athletes and alumni, Coach Kane’s and Coach DeLaney’s contributions remain at the heart of the University’s women’s and men’s basketball programs,” said West Chester University President Laurie Bernotsky. “These two extraordinary coaches, who have been exceptional teachers and inspirational mentors, have set an example for all of us to follow as we work to ensure that all of our Golden Rams succeed on and off the court.”
