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The Delgado Dolphins: What the community is missing
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Delgado Athletic Director Tommy Smith stands at the spot where Michael Jordan took his famous last shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game between North Carolina and Georgetown. Delgado inherited the floor from the Louisiana Superdome. Photo by Eddie Francis
During "free play" time on Delgado Community College's basketball court, a bright-eyed, ambitious-looking basketball player approaches Coach Tommy Smith and inquires about basketball tryouts. Smith, in his soft-spoken, reserved manner, gives the hopeful player the information he needs to attend the tryouts; and the player appreciatively shakes the coach's hand. As the player walks away, Smith says, "See what I mean? Guys want to play for us but a lot of people don't know what's going on here."
Smith is not only the head men's basketball coach but he also serves as athletics director of Delgado. What serves as a frustration to Smith is what he believes is the New Orleans community's lack of awareness of Delgado's athletics program and its history. He comments that more people are aware of the college's sports program and its reputation outside of New Orleans than inside. "I get these (local) players who come to campus, take a look around and say, 'Coach I didn't know you had all of this,'" he says.
Despite the lack of awareness, Delgado has fans who remain supportive while the college continues to fight through recovery from Hurricane Katrina like other area institutions. Not only do fans enjoy men's basketball, but they also watch women's basketball and the Dolphins' highly succesful baseball program. Prior to Katrina, which heavily compromised the campus in 2005, Delgado was slated to debut softball. Due to flood damage to its buildings and baseball field, the college suspended its plans to field a team. They also suspended basketball for two seasons. The baseball program, however, forged ahead for the 2006 season at Bayou Segnette baseball diamond.
The post-Katrina environment has made life difficult for Delgado, as a whole. Eight of the college's 21 buildings are still not occupied because of the flooding. In fact, those buildings have not even been touched according to an article in The Times-Picayune ("Delgado forced to turn away students" September 5, 2009). The article also states that Delgado had been put in the incredible position of turning away 1,500 students for their fall 2009 semester due to a lack of building space. Dr. Ron Wright, chancellor of Delgado told the newspaper, "This is my 39th year in community colleges, and I never turned away a student. Never."
A Modest Past with a Solid Foundation
Tommy Smith has a championship past. The Crescent City native is a 1970 graduate of Brother Martin High School where he helped his team to a 36-0 basketball season as a senior. Smith played high school basketball with another New Orleans small college basketball coach, Dale Valdery, who is a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference legend and current head men's basketball coach at Southern University at New Orleans. Smith then moved on to Southeastern Louisiana University where he was part of the 1975 NAIA National Championship team in track and field. After college, Smith eventually got hired by Delgado where he took over as athletics director in 1986 and became head men's basketball coach in 1991.
That is why Smith appreciates the Dolphin baseball program. He describes them as the anchor of Delgado athletics. Coached by Joe Scheuermann, the Dolphins' baseball program has been a constant success since its birth in the 1970's. The program's overall record is 1,154-570 through the 2009 season, and they have trips to the 1985 and 2007 Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado to their credit.
Delgado's baseball program is a family affair. Scheuermann took the program over from his father, the late Louis "Rags" Scheuermann, who had previously coached at Loyola University New Orleans and had compiled a coaching record of 340-92. The younger Scheuermann was also coached by Smith, who had served as assistant baseball coach. Even the concessions are run by members of the Scheuermann family.
Despite the success of baseball, Smith says that part of the reason Delgado has historically struggled is the college's location--an urban area. "We're competing with four-year schools," says Smith. He contrasts Delgado's location with a rural insitution such as perennial regional sports power Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Mississippi. "In their case, there's nothing else in that area but Pearl River. So they have the players, the fans and they do well," he says. Smith, however, has a sports fan who envisions Delgado's sports and fanbase growing.
Fire and Desire
Smith recalls a basketball game in which a rabid fan drew the attention of one of the game officials. As the official neared Delgado's bench he asked, "Coach, who is that over there?" Smith responded, "That's our chancellor." Dolphin fans are probably not aware of their leader's passion for winning, but he makes his desire to improve no secret.
Dr. Ron Wright is not some disconnected leader who questions the value of athletics at an institution of higher learning. He simply loves sports and he loves to win. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native served as an assistant men's basketball coach at Delaware Technical and Community College for five years. While president of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Wright points out that he would hang out and converse with players frequently. He points out that he would give the players instructions and yell plays to them during games. Having been a coach, the basketball-loving chancellor adds, "I got used to yelling at the refs."
It follows that Wright's love affair with Delgado basketball immediately took flight when he arrived to the Mid-City New Orleans campus. Taking over the college in 2008, Wright says that he made his way to games early in the 2008-2009 season. "When they were ready to roll, I was ready to roll," he says. Wright does not hesitate to point out the baseball program's history of excellence, therefore, he pours the same energy into baseball games.
Wright is a passionate leader and enthusiastic supporter of the community college experience. Although he earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University, his master's from Antioch University and his bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University, Wright makes it known that his journey in higher education began at Northeastern Christian Junior College. Therefore, he points out that the beauty of an athlete's community college experience is that he/she will have experiences that they may not have at a four-year institution. The fierce competitor plans to extend that energy to Delgado's athletics program.
On his wish list are women's sports, specifically. Wright says that he would like to see women's soccer and softball added to the line-up, considering Title IX in the college's decision. He especially finds soccer attractive because it is a "good international game" he says. In NJCAA Region 23, which has nineteen schools including powerhouses Hinds Community College, LSU-Eunice, Copiah-Lincoln Community College as well as others, Wright plans to make the Dolphins a more formidable presence. Still, both Wright and Smith feel that a major key to Delgado's success will be presence of their students, employees and the community.
DELGADO QUICK FACTS
Location: 615 City Park Ave., New Orleans
Web Site: www.dcc.edu/athletics
Mascot: Dolphins
Athletics Director: Tommy Smith
Sports Information Director: Tommy Taylor
Chancellor: Ron Wright, Ph.D.
Enrollment: 16,715
Athletic Affiliation: National Junior College Athletic Association, Region 23
Coaches: Tommy Smith, men's basketball; Eddie Fields; women's basketball; Joe Scheuermann, baseball
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